American Outlaw Sioux Falls' chapter fills Gateway in USA's first World Cup match since 2014

Excitement filled the air inside the Gateway Casino and Lounge as a number of members of the American Outlaws and American men's team supporters huddled around TVs on Monday for the squad's opening game of the World Cup.

Chants were heard throughout the bar, and they were answered when Timothy Weah found the back of the net in the 36th minute of the first half. The standing-room-only crowd went nuts.

At intermission, fans were feeling good. But, it was apparent early on that changes were made by Wales.

Eventually, Wales' offensive pressure frustrated USA, leading to a penalty kick for star winger Gareth Bale, who made good on the attempt and forced a tie, with less than 8 minutes to play in regulation. That's how the game would end.

Despite the tie, it was seen as a step forward for the USA Men's National Team. Prior to Monday, it had been more than 3,000 days since the team appeared in the World Cup.

Gateway becomes spot for American Outlaws' Sioux Falls chapter

Some of the fans inside the Gateway were part of the American Outlaws, a supporters' group for United States soccer. Sioux Falls has its own chapter, which was the 42nd in the country. Since then, the organization has more than 200 organizations and more than 30,000 members.

"(We're) one of the earlier chapters in the whole organization ... We were ahead of the curve," said Clint Krahn, president of the American Outlaws Sioux Falls chapter, on Monday. "We started off with just a small handful of guys going to the bar (to watch), there'd be 10 to 15 (people) show up. And it's slowly built up, and we started packing in at the Gateway."

Andy Siebenborn, was one of the first supporters of the club when it was formed. He was the 1,000th overall member of the American Outlaws. Krahn said the chapter started in May of 2010.

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"I think people are happy to be back (in the World Cup)," Siebenborn said. "... We've got a young, good team. Obviously, anything's possible, so I think we're not just looking to be here, but looking to do some things and hopefully win some games."

Currently, the Sioux Falls chapter has about 150 members, Krahn said. With a membership, you're given USMNT merch along with coupons and discounts. Some of those Sioux Falls members even made the 7,300-mile trip to Qatar to support the Americans, Krahn said.

The club had bounced around a few bars trying to find a home and finally found that in the Gateway about 14 years ago, according to Gateway Casino and Lounge owner Jackson Rentschler.

"I love soccer, I grew up playing soccer," Rentschler said. "About 14-plus years ago, American Outlaws were going to a different bar here and we just had some buddies come here. 'Well, that bar closed down and apparently they reached out to us. My dad goes, 'No,' well I got a wind of it, so I'm like, 'Here's the deal, he probably doesn't even understand what you guys are all about ... Long story short, we hosted the last time the United States (was in the World Cup)."

Inside the bar, scarves for American Outlaws line the walls and ceilings. Along with the World Cup, Gateway Lounge hosts watch parties for men's friendlies and the US Women's National Team.

"The Gateway had a huge part in our growth as a chapter. There were a lot of places we visited before that were not as welcoming as we hoped. It was a struggle to get games on TVs, struggled to turn the sound on, struggled for specials. Once we found the Gateway, we really really hit our stride. More and more people started showing up," Krahn said.

USMNT struggles in 2018, misses World Cup qualification

But, the Sioux Falls chapter faced a challenge back in 2018. That's when, for the first time since 1986, the team didn't qualify.

"We took a huge blow ... Numbers bottomed out, and it was back down to five of us that would come to a game. As this new generation of players just really started to step up and show what they are, the numbers are back," Krahn said. "Today at the Gateway, it's standing-room only. It's awesome − really, really awesome to have all these people back."

"It was painful four years ago for us not to make it because it just kind of ruined soccer in this country for that cycle, but no, it's good to (be) back and it's exciting," Siebenborn added.

If Monday was any indication, soccer has made a full-on comeback in popularity in the country.

"We had eight years of heartbreak, and now we're finally back," Rentschler said. "... You had a bad eight years, it was a dark, dark place for soccer. So you kind of lost the people that used to show up for every match, and you don't see them, and now you're kind of seeing that energy come back."

Throughout the World Cup, Gateway Casino and Lounge will host USA watch parties. The next game is scheduled for Friday at 1 p.m., against England. The bar will also show the game against Iran scheduled for 1 p.m. Nov. 29.

To advance in the World Cup, the United States will need to finish top two in its group and will have that opportunity against England and Iran.

"Get out of the group. That's the biggest thing, it's a young group and a lot of inexperience .." Krahn said. "Once we're out of the group, let's make some noise."

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: USMNT supporters crowd Gateway for World Cup opener