“It was a party all the way, up to that game,” Brunken said. “Some partied more than others. It was a blast, I remember. And that’s kind of how we recruit for fans. We don’t try to change people’s opinions on why they should watch soccer. All you have to do is join us at a bar to watch a game, or at one of the games in one of our sections or at one of our events. All you have to do is come watch and you’ll get hooked, I promise.”

That’s what began to happen on the maiden voyage to Chicago. The crew from Lincoln had a tailgate spot lined up and found scores of Brazilian fans in the lot with them. They danced with or, in some cases, at the opposing team’s supporters, banged on drums, sang songs, grilled and celebrated the national team together, which is the experience Brunken and Donahoo sought all along. It drew attention from fellow U.S. fans outside Soldier Field.

“People were just wondering what was going on with these 55 people with the same shirt on,” Brunken said.

They came prepared with an answer, in the form of a website address listed on “some cheesy business cards,” Brunken said. To the curious, they handed out cards that told them to go to americanoutlaws.com, which a friend and Outlaw, Ben Cohoon, had whipped up.