Hello, and welcome to American Tifo, a newsletter for, and about, North American soccer supporters. Thank you for being here. If you haven’t already, subscribe! If you’re a member of a supporters group, please consider sharing this with the rest of your SG and encouraging them to subscribe as well.
Major League Soccer kicked off its 28th season last weekend, and with it came the feeling of the dawning of a new era. The league welcomed its 29th club, Saint Louis City SC, and began a blockbuster new broadcast rights deal with Apple TV that seems like a major improvement. But one constant among all of these new beginnings is the stellar performance from the league’s supporters. Check out some of the best supporter moments from Matchday 1 of MLS.
Nashville has quickly grown into a formidable supporter city. Leveraging a large fan base, a sparkling new stadium, and a successful on-field product, several individual SGs, representing the diverse population and interests of the city, have been grown under the umbrella organization, The Backline. To kick off the club’s fourth season, and to honor the 2022 MLS Golden Boot winner, Hany Mukhtar, supporters unveiled a massive tifo of the German striker, hailing him as The Man in Black. The display was a nice bit of synergy with the release of the club’s ‘Man In Black’ alternate jersey, which was a collaboration with the estate of Johnny Cash.
Orlando City supporters from the Ruckus and Iron Lion Firm made their intentions for the season clear, declaring they were hungry for more in their home opener tifo. The flamingo in the mouth of one of the gators, a dig at rival Inter Miami, was a nice touch.
Atlanta United and Charlotte FC supporters used their home opener tifos to honor Anton Walkes who tragically passed away in a boating accident in January. Walkes represented Atlanta United during the 2017 season and again from 2020-2021, and played for Charlotte FC in 2022.
Seattle Sounders supporters planted their stake in the ground with their Matchday 1 tifo. After a disappointing 11th place finish last season, their massive tifo channeled LL Cool J, proclaiming ‘Don’t Call it a Comeback’ and portrayed an iced-out turntable-spinning Brian Schmetzer.
Around the rest of the league, Austin, Cincinnati and Philly came with impressive displays as well.
This week, LAFC, who always step up big in the tifo department, host Portland for their home opener, and St. Louis City make history with the club’s first ever home match, so expectations will be high.