The D-Day Soccer Match

This week, on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, we look back at the soccer game between American servicemen and French locals after the invasion of Normandy. Plus, we examine a historic moment for the deaf NT, highlight a maximum-security soccer collection in California, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• 🤝 The Final Friendly

• 📡 Deaf NT Makes History

• 🎖️ The D-Day Soccer Match

• 👕 Grails: Episode 2

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

OUR HISTORY
The Final Friendly

Thirty years ago today, the USMNT was gearing up for the biggest month in its history. No one was sure what to expect, but this final friendly ahead of the World Cup gave a taste of what was to come.

A crowd of 91,123 fans packed the Rose Bowl to witness the USMNT take on Mexico. At the time, it was the largest crowd to witness a U.S. World Cup team play.

The US emerged victorious thanks to a lone Roy Wegerle goal, and the huge turnout was only a sign of the record-breaking attendance to come that summer. Notably, proceeds from this final friendly netted $1 million in a U.S. Soccer contribution to UNICEF/Children’s Defense Fund.

BROADCAST
Deaf NT Makes History

Over the weekend, the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team faced off against Australia in the first-ever nationally televised deaf soccer competition.

It was a first-of-its-kind TV presentation, which included on-screen ASL interpretation. The game also marked the first-ever U.S. Extended National Team doubleheader with a senior U.S. National Team and the first time an ENT has had a title sponsor for one of its games.

To seal such a historic evening, the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team took care of business on the pitch and won 11-0.

COVER STORY
The D-Day Soccer Match

On June 6th, 1944, America held its breath as Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy. Operation Overlord would result in the liberation of France from Nazi control, and it proved to be a decisive turning point in World War II, largely in part to the support from the US.

Eighty years later, the world rightfully remembers D-Day for its enormous military and historical significance. But in the Cotentin Peninsula, they mark that day with a ceremonial soccer game — one inspired by a match played between American servicemen and French locals once their region was finally liberated.

The story goes that a few weeks after the Battle of Normandy, American troops turned their sights to the German-controlled Maupertus Airport, a critical stronghold for the Nazis in France. Once American troops seized the airport, the surrounding towns and the US Army celebrated with a soccer match. According to eyewitnesses, the game was “the first moment people were happy again.”

A retired British wing commander who helped organize the match described it in even greater detail: “On the appointed day, the French team turned out looking very smart and efficient whilst my American colleagues looked more like pantomime clowns. . . . As a football match, the game was a disaster. As an event in the furtherance of good relations, the day was a resounding success,” he concluded.

For decades, this game was forgotten, but in 2009, a former amateur player from the Netherlands found magazine clippings depicting this curious match. After further help from North American historians, they uncovered the whole backstory of the game. Since then, the region has hosted a memorial match on D-Day, pitting locals against US servicemen.

This past weekend, one such commemorative game took place in the town of Carentan along the French coast. It seems to have been a resounding success.

CLUBELEVEN
GRAILS: Episode 02

A jersey from when Ronaldo (R9) went by “Ronaldinho,” hundreds of the rarest boots in the world, and dozens of gorgeous 2000s kits. All kept in a biometrically sealed room.

For episode 2 of our Grails series, we traveled to California to meet with Jona Leon, one of the biggest boot and jersey collectors in the world. Watch it here.

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Feel free to drop which specific model is your favorite too. We’ll highlight your best answers next week!

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Red Panda Kit: With more than 110 births, more red pandas have been born at Zoo Knoxville than at any other zoo in the world. The city’s USL side collabed with them for this special jersey release.

FIFA 2K: Rumor has it that 2K has acquired the coveted FIFA videogame license. If reports are right, FIFA 2K25 is set to drop later this year.

Caribous: Old soccer clubs knew how to do fashion. The Athletic’s Pablo Maurer somehow dug up this beautiful hand-embroidered Caribous of Colorado jacket from 1977.

LeBron is a Loudoun Fan: King James had everyone scratching their heads when he tweeted support for Loudoun United over the weekend. Turns out his old high school coach’s son plays at the USL club. That was definitely not on the 2024 bingo card.

Project Greenland: But can he do it on a cold, rainy night in Greenland? The Nordic territory just applied to be part of CONCACAF. The away days will go crazy up in Nuuk.

FANDOM
Name the Newest USL W League Team

It’s not every day you get to choose the name of a soccer club.

A few weeks ago, Pittsburgh announced they’ll be getting a USL W League team set to debut in 2025. Now, they need your help choosing a name.

Don’t be afraid to get creative. You can enter your ideas through this form.

EXPANSION
Inside the Battle for Pro/Rel

You might be sick of hearing the discourse surrounding Pro/Rel. But USL was just a week away from potentially making it a reality in the States.

Despite the crucial vote on Pro/Rel getting canned, it did allow for productive dialogue to happen. In the end, it might make the transition to this model truly sustainable in the long run.

This is how everything unfolded behind closed doors and what it might mean for the future.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you to choose the best USMNT kit of all time. Here are some of your answers:

• “2006. Classy and singular!” - Steven

• “2012. The Waldo Kit is iconic for a reason.” - J

• “2013. It’s the cleanest plus the retro badge is beautiful.” - T

In the poll, “2013” and “2012” tied with 27% of the vote each. The Centennial Kit and the Waldo Kit are by far some of the most revered in USMNT history, so it’s no surprise they took the top spot. Maybe it’s right that they share the win on this one.

UP NEXT
Going to TST

This week, we’ll be traveling to Cary, NC, for one of the biggest events of the summer. With Agüero, Nani, Zanetti, and others playing in the second edition of this innovative tournament, we can’t wait to bring you closer to all the action. You can follow our coverage here, and if you’re at TST, let us know so we can say hi!

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