The United States has taken a liking to soccer in the wake of our more-successful-than-usual run during the 2014 World Cup, qualifying to the Round of 16 despite being placed in the "group of death" from the get-go. Naturally, plenty of interest has gone to which celebrities has gone to what celebrities support what squads. Athletes, actors, musicians: Everyone now knows who Kobe Bryant, Snoop Dogg and Samuel L. Jackson respectively support: English Premier League teams, and other European squads.
On one hand, it's tough to blame them: English Premier teams have always had the best players on account of having the most money on account of having the most fans, while our own homegrown MLS squads average less than 20,000 a game (a rising figure). Plus our journalism school friends pressure us into adopting Premiere squads for the purpose of bar arguments, if nothing else (somehow your correspondent got stuck with Tottenham. Go Hotspurs).
It'd be nice to see American celebrities put some more oomph behind our own developing professional fütbol organization however, in the hopes of boosting the league's profile and and its quality of talent. Perhaps even enough to crack the Round of Eight in Russia.
To honor the 20th birthday of the MLS, here are five musicians who are faithful fans to MLS teams (as in, show up for more than one game).
Rivers Cuomo and The LA Galaxy
Rivers Cuomo of Weezer represented the ideal face of American soccer during the early years of the MLS (and your correspondent's primary school years). Although he may not have openly adopted the Galaxy during its first few years, he did play in a band that many still consider to represent the glory of being a loser. A certain bespectacled schlub was the goalie for his elementary school's team (versus partaking in American football with the cool kids) and actively listened to Weezer as affirmation for his lack of muscles and/or social skills. It was less than surprising that Cuomo has now emerged as one of the most fervent celebrity supporters of his adopted hometown's team, even wearing his jersey onstage at times. On a grander scale, his tracks "My Day Is Coming" and "Represent" are tributes to the U.S. national teams.
Rancid and Real Salt Lake / San Jose Earthquakes
Punk band Rancid might not have a collective squad whom they support, but several members are huge fans of one team or another. Guitarist and vocalist Lars Fredericksen has become one of the biggest names in American punk from the '90s punk so he makes sure to use his influence to support the most indie of sports in the Bay Area: He holds season tickets to both the San Jose Earthquakes and the ICHL hockey team the San Francisco Bulls (until it folded during 2014). He described the Earthquakes as "The Punkest" team in the MLS and made an official team anthem, "Never Say Die," under the guise of his side project The Old Firm Casuals. Meanwhile drummer Branden Steineckert is a season ticket holder for Real Salt Lake and wrote its official anthem, "Believe."
Macklemore and Seattle Sounders FC
Macklemore is a tad less selective than the previously mentioned musicians, throwing his support equally behind all of the teams in his hometown Seattle, including the Seattle Sounders FC. He and partner Ryan Lewis performed at the 2013 MLS All Star Game when it was hosted in Kansas City. Most humorously, he and his crew trolled the Colorado Rapids when the two groups were sharing a flight. He tweeted the context and a photo of trumpet player Owuor Arunga wearing a Sounders jersey, along with the hashtag "#beef."
Kirko Bangz and Houston Dynamo
Hip-hop was one of the first genres (at least within North America) to jump onboard with the soccer trend. One piece of evidence was Kirko Bangz and his music video for "Cup Up Top Down," featuring the emcee wearing both a Houston Dynamo jersey and a team scarf (proving that Rick Ross wasn't the only rapper who could pull off the scarf look). Most would argue that the title probably refers to toasting a glass of liquor while riding in a convertible, but we imagine he at least thought about the Dynamo hoisting the MLS Cup while the roof was down at NRG Stadium...because professional soccer had theoretically gotten big enough to justify playing in 70,000-seat venue. (NOTE: He also represents the MLB Astros as well).
Flogging Molly and Columbus Crew SC
Those hating on the hometown team of your correspondent will point out that the entirety of Flogging Molly isn't necessarily in support of the Ohio squad—drummer George Schwindt and manager Gary Schwindt are just from Columbus (and are perennial season ticket holders). However, the band has played multiple post-game concerts at Crew Stadium over the years, and those jerseys they wore "for show" have made appearances at venues outside of Ohio as well. Victory!
