The World Cup is officially taking over the Red, White, and Blue, and right here in Springfield, Missouri, soccer fever has reached an absolute boiling point! On the latest edition of The Starting Lineup, we sat down with Ryan Blamey, the president of the Springfield chapter of the American Outlaws, to talk about the massive wave of local soccer fandom crashing over the Ozarks. If you thought our town only cared about the Springfield Cardinals or Friday Night Lights, the scene on Commercial Street last Friday night proved that soccer has officially arrived.

A Thousand Fans Storm Commercial Street

We asked Ryan what he was realistically expecting for the US Men’s National Team opening match against Paraguay. He admitted that the American Outlaws, Mumbles 1888, and Eurasia Coffee Company hoped to draw around three to four hundred people for a kickoff block party. Instead, Springfield absolutely blew that out of the water. Around 1,000 passionate fans packed the indoor and outdoor seating areas on Commercial Street, creating an electric, shoulder-to-shoulder atmosphere complete with Uncle Sam costumes and relentless chants of “USA!”. For the South Siders, Ryan also gave a massive shout-out to Mully’s (the old Galloway Station on Republic Road) as another premier family-friendly soccer hub in town.

History Made on the Pitch

While the vibe locally was insane, what happened on the field was historic. Ryan broke down the technical brilliance of the USA’s 4-1 victory. Striker Folarin Balogun netted a brace, a feat not accomplished by a US player in a World Cup match in 96 years. Even more mind-boggling, defender Chris Richards set an all-time World Cup record by attempting and completing 83 passes without a single miss. Despite some external concerns over Christian Pulisic’s late-season form with AC Milan, Ryan told us he isn’t worried a bit after Pulisic added his third career World Cup assist and terrorized defenders all night.

Breaking Down the Low Block Against Australia

Looking ahead to Friday’s 2:00 PM match against Australia, the tactical conversation got deep. Ryan warned us that Australia plays a very similar style to Paraguay—utilizing a “low block” or “bunkering” defense designed to frustrate the attack. While the Yanks decimated Paraguay’s defense, Australia poses a quicker threat on the counter-attack.

How to Join the Outlaws This Friday

The American Outlaws chapter has doubled in size since last summer under Ryan’s leadership, and they are ready for another massive crowd. If you plan on “cutting out of work early” to catch the 2:00 PM kickoff against Australia this Friday, Ryan suggests arriving at Mumbles 1888 an hour and a half to two hours early to secure a spot. Doors open at 11:00 AM, so get ready for another epic watch party presented by our local favorites!