How to start an American Outlaws chapter in your city

American Outlaws is the supporters group for the US national teams, and it is organized as city chapters, each with a home bar where members meet for every game. The chapters list shows each chapter and where it watches, which is why an AO chapter is the first thing a national team fan looks for in a new city. Unlike a Premier League club’s programme, the requirements here are published in full, so this guide can be exact.

What American Outlaws requires

Everything below is from AO’s Start a Chapter page, its FAQ and its membership page.

• A minimum of 35 paid American Outlaws members. The FAQ suggests getting in touch when you are close to 35, so the national team can help with the last stretch.
• A home base that AO can list online, where fans can expect to meet to watch each game.
• A viewing party at that bar for every game. The FAQ’s first instruction for anyone starting out is to find a bar willing to show every game and tell everyone you know to meet there.
• After approval, paperwork. A new chapter incorporates as a non-profit, adopts by-laws and opens a bank account.
• Membership is $30 a year plus shipping. The membership page says $5 of every membership goes to the member’s official local chapter, that members vote for local chapter leadership, and that membership includes the supporters tee, a welcome kit and access to the AO supporters section at US Soccer games.
• What AO provides a chapter: chapter-specific logos and merchandise options, a share of national promotions, and $5 per member in dues from AO National to fund local initiatives.

AO lists chapters by city on its chapters page, so the working name is American Outlaws, or AO, followed by your city. Confirm the name with AO before you print a banner.

Before you apply

• A bar that will show every US game with sound, including the qualifiers at odd hours and the friendlies nobody else is watching. AO lists this bar online, so pick one you can keep.
• Thirty-five people willing to pay $30 a year and to be counted toward your chapter when they join.
• Two or three people willing to be officers of a non-profit, since that is what a chapter becomes on approval.
• A social account with the bar, the next game and photos from the ones you have already watched together.
• A city name for the chapter, since AO lists chapters by city.

Getting recognized

1. 1
   Find the bar

   AO's own FAQ puts this first. Agree that every game is shown with sound, and agree who at the bar you text when a kickoff time changes.
2. 2
   Recruit toward 35 paid members

   Members join at theamericanoutlaws.com and pick their chapter. Until yours exists, keep a list of who has joined so you can show AO the count.
3. 3
   Use the contact form

   The contact form has a Start a Chapter category. The Start a Chapter page says to tell AO you want to put your community on the map and that the team will reach out.
4. 4
   Incorporate, adopt by-laws, open the account

   The three things AO asks of an approved chapter. Do them in that order; the bank will want the incorporation papers.

After you are official

• Announce it from your account and the bar’s, and ask AO National to share it.
• Meet for every game. Both national teams, friendlies included. The listing says every game, and members will hold you to it.
• Keep the schedule public. Next kickoff in local time, doors-open time, any change of bar for a big match.
• Hold elections. Members vote for chapter leadership, per the membership page; the by-laws you adopted say how.

List the chapter on SoccerMapd

SoccerMapd’s where-to-watch page for the USMNT lists chapters by metro and links each one, next to the upcoming fixtures in local time and the US TV channel where it is announced. A chapter that lists itself appears there for its city, on the United States team page and in the supporters club directory. State whether you are an official AO chapter or a group still recruiting toward 35; both belong on the map.

Once listed, ask for the schedule console link and tick the matches you are showing. The supporters club guide walks through it. No account is needed and nothing costs anything.

See USMNT fans by city