Chicago soccer fans take off work to support the US women’s national team

US women’s national team fans are glued to TV’s at Timothy O’Tooles in Streeterville during a watch party Thursday afternoon.

The United States women’s national team’s first goal of their final match in group play against Sweden came at the three-minute mark.

Lindsey Horan put the ball in the back of the net off a corner kick, and Timothy O’Toole’s in Streeterville erupted. There were hugs and high-fives for everyone.

“There’s excitement around the group stages,” American Outlaw’s Chicago chapter president Kevin Harriss said. “But as they progress further and further in the knockout rounds, there will be even more people here.”

O’Toole’s is the official watch party host for the American Outlaws Chicago chapter.

Harriss has been a member of the American Outlaw’s local Chicago chapter for over 10 years and has been the chapter president for two. With his title comes the responsibility of ensuring national-team fans in Chicago know how and where to support team USA.

The American Outlaws are a global non-profit supporters group of the US national teams and were initially established in Lincoln, Nebraska. They went national in 2007 and established their first international chapter in 2014 in London. Today, the Outlaws have chapters in more than 175 different cities across the world.

American Outlaw’s Chicago chapter president watches the USWNT match against Sweden alongside other Outlaw members.

While the Outlaws are more focused on the national teams, Chicago local 134 is the official supporter group of the Red Stars.

These supporter groups don’t want to be mistaken as fans because to them it’s much deeper than just fandom. They look at their membership in these groups as an unofficial job, the objective being to bring awareness and attention to the sport of soccer.

“One big difference between the way we view ourselves and fans is that we aren’t just there on game day,” Harriss said. “We’re doing charity events throughout the city to help grow youth soccer. We’ll work with leagues and tournaments to spread the word on local NWSL teams. We’re trying to help grow the game.”

About 50 fans filled O’Tooles Thursday afternoon to support Team USA as they concluded group play. Some fans skipped work to be there, while others like med student Nalini Tata rushed over after a 10-hour shift.

“I’m proud of these women, proud of this team and proud of the conversations they’ve vaulted to the platform they are at,” Tata said.

Julie Ertz, Alyssa Naeher, Tierna Davidson, Morgan Brian and Sam Kerr are all representing the Red Stars on the World Cup stage. Kerr is playing for the Australian national team. As fans watched the US women’s national team take a 2-0 win over Sweden, some thought about what it would be like if this support carried over into the NWSL.

“Every time they mention anything about the NWSL that makes me so happy,” Chicago Loop resident, Emily Lawson said. “That is a key reason why the US is so successful, all of our US players play in the NWSL.”

USA opens the round of 16 against Spain on Monday at 11 A.M., some fans have already requested off of work.