Napalming the Harvard Soccer Field

The Vietnam War, a deadly weapon, and blowing up the Harvard soccer pitch. This week, we look at the story of how a soccer field helped develop napalm. Plus, we revisit the American Hand of God, examine the opening shots of the Soccer Warz, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 👋 The American Hand of God

• 🏆 The Minnesota Super Cup

• 🔻 Napalming the Harvard Soccer Field

• 🪖 Soccer Warz

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

OUR HISTORY
The American Hand of God

Today in 1989, the USMNT earned one of its most important victories ever — controversial handball included.

It was the final round of the Concacaf WC Qualifiers, and the US was hanging on to a narrow 1-0 lead against Costa Rica… until disaster struck.

US Goalkeeper David Vanole shockingly fumbled a clearance in the 88th minute, and the Costa Ricans fired at the open American net. At the last second, defender Steve Trittschuh dove across the goal line and made a Suarez-style handball save to give the US a lifeline.

Vanole saved the penalty, and the rest is history. The emotional and mathematical boost from those 3 points would propel the US to its first World Cup berth in 40 years. Looking back, Trittschuh’s defensive handball may as well have counted as a goal.

GRASSROOTS
The Minnesota Super Cup

A dream come true for the soccer sickos. USL, NPSL, MASL, UPSL, and MLS NEXT all represented in one competition.

Founded in 2023, this cup was started with a simple idea: bring together the finest teams in Minnesota and have them battle for supremacy in a World Cup-style tourney. Pretty much the perfect way to unite the best players in the state and help foster pride for local soccer across all leagues.

With the cup running from May 11 to mid-July, we’re hoping we can somehow make it out there this summer. It should be a special one.

COVER STORY
Napalming the Harvard Soccer Field

It was July 4th, 1942, and Harvard Professor Louis Fieser geared up for a test that would shape the next century of warfare.

He’d partnered up with the military to create napalm, and its first use ever would take place at the Harvard Soccer Field. Fieser, along with university assistants and firefighters, dug a 60-yard hole on the pitch and filled it with water. Finally, they dropped a 70-pound napalm bomb in the center.

The eruption shook the school, and a 2,100-degree Fahrenheit cloud arose over the field. Days later, the dean of the Business School received complaints that the fumes were still visible six days after the test and that seventeen people required treatment as a result.

It’s still unclear why Fieser chose the soccer field of all places to conduct his experiment, but it might have had something to do with his past as a varsity football player. No respect for our game.

Years later, his invention gained an infamous reputation during the Vietnam War for its use on civilian populations. With that war ending 49 years ago today, it gives us somber reason to look back at that test and wonder how soccer found itself tangled up in the development of such a deadly weapon.

The Kim Foundation is one of many NGOs with roots tying back to the conflict. Started by Kim Phuc Phan Thi, a young victim of napalm in the war and immortalized in a Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, her foundation aims to heal the wounds suffered by innocent children worldwide. You can donate to the Kim Foundation here.

POLITICS
Soccer Warz

It was an open declaration of war. Just when it seemed like Indy Eleven and USL had everything secure for their $1 billion, marquee stadium, MLS swooped in to deliver a horrendous blow.

As you probably heard last week, the Mayor of Indianapolis astonishingly announced he’s working on a bid to bring an MLS team to the city, which could effectively kill Indy Eleven. On top of that, the stadium developer claimed the city was trying to pull out of the Eleven Park project.

Understandably, the USL community was incensed. On the flip side, others argued bringing top-flight soccer to a new market is always a good thing. There’s been plenty of back-and-forth among fans.

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know what you think of this touchy subject. We’ll keep you posted on the results and highlight your best responses next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Called It: It was as if La Liga read your comments last week and decided to laugh in all our faces. Yes, the president of the Spanish league claimed official matches are coming to the US in 2025/26. We jinxed it.

Poundin’ Beers: You gotta give it up for this Houston Dynamo fan perk. They organized an evening of beers and banter with head coach Ben Olsen and supporters. Wholesome.

Hell Yeah: In soccer, it’s the equivalent of witnessing a total solar eclipse. Rhode Island FC executed this inside-the-box-indirect free-kick to perfection. 

First of the First: Concacaf unveiled the first teams to qualify for the first-ever W Champions Cup. These are the teams from Mexico, the US, and Canada that have made it so far.

Chihuahua TV: You know soccer has arrived when they’re streaming indoor games. The Chihuahua Savage and KC Comets duked it out on the CBS Sports Golazo Network this past weekend. Incredible.

WC 2026
Solving the Visa Wait Time?

There’s a solution for everything. Last week, The Athletic reported that the window to get visas for the World Cup may already be closed. With wait times for visa interviews extending over 800 days in some countries, there’s a chance many fans might miss out on the festival of soccer in 2026.

Although not exactly the same, Russia faced a similar problem in 2018. Their solution was to grant visa-free travel to the country for spectators with Fan ID. 

FIFA claim they’re working closely with the US Government to find a solution, and likely, it would have to be something similar to what Russia developed in 2018. There are added political and logistical wrinkles to this, of course, but if they don’t figure it out, maybe USMNT fans will face less competition hunting for tickets.

ROMANCE
The Valentine’s Day Bandit

Finally, no more SCs or FCs. Maine's first pro soccer club announced its team colors and brand identity ahead of its planned inaugural 2025 season.

They’ll be known as Hearts of Pine (or simply “Hearts”), and their creativity is off the charts. The name was partly inspired by the Valentine’s Day Bandit of all things. Plus, they engaged the community to help with input across all steps, and they had Maine College of Art & Design graduate Hugh McCormick lead the branding effort.

A true masterclass in launching a team the right way. The governor even got in on the action and declared April 27 the Maine Day of Soccer. Portland really stole our hearts with this whole unveiling.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you what decade of American soccer you were most interested in. Here are some of your best answers:

• “‘70s. The decade of the fall of the NASL. Rumors of a new league and USA to host the WC in the next decade.” - Dario

• “‘80s. This was the decade I grew up in. Curious to see what soccer was like then.” - Eric

In the poll, the “‘90s” answer took the top spot with 40% of the vote.

Aside from the poll answers, we also wanted to mention a special response from our friend Burke Cherrie at For Soccer. Last week, we highlighted Teddy Roosevelt’s encounter with Joga Bonito in the Amazon, and Burke let us know his grandfather, George Cherrie, actually helped lead that very expedition back in 1914. An unbelievable connection. Here is the uncropped photo from last week featuring Burke’s grandfather.

UP NEXT
A Sneak Peek

We have a big few weeks ahead. We’ll be releasing our brand-new shirts soon, and we wanted to give you a look before anyone else. Keep an eye out for the drop, and as always, we appreciate all your support across all these projects!

Also, we’ve got news on our soccer card drinking game. We’ll be making packs available soon, and you can stay on top of that release by following Give&Go right here. 

Enjoying this?

Make sure to forward this email to a friend and help us spread the soccer gospel far and wide! We’ll see you next week with even more untold stories of soccer.

Have a great Tuesday!

Pablo