Behind the banner: How a World Cup-themed USA tifo...
Key takeaways
- The USMNT clinched the top spot in Group D and moved to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- SEVEN MONTHS before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, section 148 at Raymond James Stadium offered a glimpse of what's to come.
- "It's something that hopefully the Tampa Bay community will remember."
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
The USMNT clinched the top spot in Group D and moved to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The American Outlaws, the USMNT's supporters group, will continue to inspire with their tifos as the fight continues. Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
SEVEN MONTHS before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, section 148 at Raymond James Stadium offered a glimpse of what's to come. On a Tuesday night in November, the American Outlaws' Tampa Bay chapter gathered for the U.S. men's national team's final match of 2025 against Uruguay -- and brought the show with them. As cheers billow above, a 20-by-35-foot tifo rose above the crowd and rippled through the stands, its message printed in bold black letters: Sailing to Victory in 2026. For Juan Ruiz, vice president of the chapter, the moment was more than a reveal. It was the payoff after planning for one of the country's largest soccer supporters' groups, which counts nearly 30,000 members worldwide and about 200 in Tampa Bay.
"It's been a number of man-hours," Ruiz says. "It's something that hopefully the Tampa Bay community will remember."