The Soccer Player Who Won A Super Bowl

From beating England ahead of the '66 World Cup, to earning a Super Bowl ring with the Cowboys, this obscure athlete conquered both types of football. He deserves a monument. This Super Bowl week, we look into the inspiring story of legendary soccer player Toni Fritsch and his unexpected switch over to the NFL. Plus, we revisit a PK shootout for the ages, unveil our Soccer Photo Contest champions, and much more.

This week’s stories:

• ⌛ The Longest PK Shootout in USMNT History

• 🏆 Soccer Photo Contest Winners

• 🏈 The Soccer Player Who Won A Super Bowl

• 📺 MLS Returns to Cable TV

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

OUR HISTORY
The Longest PK Shootout in USMNT History

Thirty-five years ago today, the USMNT took part in one of its most thrilling PK shootouts ever.

It was February 4th, 1990, and the US was facing Colombia in the consolation game of the Marlboro Cup in Miami. It was one of the final tests ahead of the 1990 World Cup—our first in 40 years—so the stakes were higher than usual for a game of this nature.

The match ended 1-1 in regular time, and the ensuing penalty shootout finished as a 9-8 defeat at the hands of Los Cafeteros. It always sucks to lose in penalties, but at least it was a record-breaking shootout. To this day, it’s the longest one in USMNT history, and I don’t see it being beaten anytime soon.

CLUBELEVEN
Soccer Photo Contest Winners

Following a staggering 600+ submissions, two rounds of judge selections, and nearly 2,000 votes cast in the open community vote, we are happy to finally unveil the winners of our 2024 North American Soccer Photo Contest.

You can view the results here.

Congratulations to all the champions!

COVER STORY
The Soccer Player Who Won A Super Bowl

Most people have never heard of him, but Toni Fritsch is a footballing legend… times two.

On October 20, 1965, he wrote his name in Austrian (and global) soccer history when he scored twice at Wembley in a 3-2 friendly victory against Sir Bobby Charlton’s soon-to-be World Cup-winning England side. It was the Three Lions’ last defeat ahead of their home WC, and it earned Fritsch the nickname of “Wembley Toni.”

Even more impressively, he lifted three Austrian Bundesliga titles during his club career at Rapid Vienna. But Toni wasn’t done there. No. Instead, he decided to go on an Arnold Schwarzenegger-level type of side quest.

At the end of his time with Rapid Vienna in 1971, a few scouts from the Dallas Cowboys went over to see the great “Wembley Toni,” and they convinced him to come play in the NFL. 

"They gave me a football and showed me how to kick it," Fritsch remembered. "The next thing I knew they were offering me money to come to America to play this strange sport."

And he killed it.

Toni made his NFL debut in November 1971, scoring a game-winning field goal in his first game with the Cowboys. That very season, he helped the Cowboys win a Super Bowl, making him the only man to win professional titles as both a soccer player and a football player.

Oh, and he was also the first known American football player to try a rabona on an onside kick (and he did it in the playoffs AND it was successful). What a guy.

Toni would go on to spend 12 seasons in the NFL and appeared in a combined 139 games for Dallas, San Diego, Houston, and New Orleans. Most importantly, he kicked down the door for other soccer players to make their way into the league and find success.

So, when (if) you sit down with your friends and family to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, make sure to let them know about “Wembley Toni”—the soccer player who conquered real football and American football.

TELEVISION
MLS Returns to Cable TV

It’s one of the most shocking moves this offseason. MLS is back on cable and satellite…kinda.

After two years of making fans go exclusively through Apple to watch all league games, MLS Season Pass will now be available through traditional cable and satellite providers (but only on Xfinity and DirecTV for now).

You'll still have to pay for the package, of course, but at least you can now do so through those traditional platforms. It should make everything much simpler, honestly. But what prompted the change?

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let’s see what the community has to say. We’ll highlight your best answers next week!

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Statue Treatment: I’m just surprised it took this long. This LA Galaxy and USMNT legend is finally getting his much-deserved monument.

New Era, New Look: A historic DMV club is getting a makeover. Do you like the rebrand?

Blank Slate: Miami FC finished at the very bottom of the USL standings in 2024... 31 points behind 2nd-to-last in the East. But maybe the arrival of this MLS icon could turn things around.

Soccer Volunteering: Minneapolis City SC is looking for community ambassadors. If you’re in the area, check out the position here!

Tyler Adams to USL: …as an owner. He joins NY Jets quarterback Tyrod Taylor as part of this club’s ownership group. They’ll be launching later in 2025.

EXPANSION
Historic Friendlies

The USL Super League is hitting new milestones. It feels surreal to get to witness these firsts:

Tomorrow, Brooklyn FC will be taking on Napoli Femenile over in Italy, underscoring the league’s ambition to carve out a space in women’s soccer both domestically and abroad.

On top of that, Tampa Bay Sun announced last Friday that they’ll be facing Gotham FC in a friendly for the ages. It will be the first time a team from the newly established USL Super League faces a team from the NWSL.

We’ll get to see America’s two top-tier women’s professional soccer leagues finally duke it out on the field. Grab your popcorn.

ART & DESIGN
Red, White, and Blue

The official 2025 Club World Cup ball was released last week, and it caused quite a stir. I’ve seen people praise it, and I’ve seen others complain that it’s just a prime example of the classic American obsession to put our flag everywhere.

Fair criticism, to be honest, but I dig it. We’re the first country to host this expanded tournament, so why not? FIFA is also clearly pandering to us, which is great.

Now if they could rig things so an MLS team goes far in the competition, that’d be even better.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: What do you think of the leaked 2026 World Cup ball design? Here are some of your best answers:

• “Too soon to judge but it looks mediocre.” - Dario

• “The colors will make or break the ball so it’s hard to tell from this prototype.” - J.W.

• “Not sure yet but nothing will beat the Jabulani and Brazuca.” - José V.

In the poll, “I’ll wait to judge” came in first with 58% of the vote, while “No, I don’t like it” finished second with approximately 25% of the vote.

I’m on the same camp as most of you. I’ll refrain from making any judgments for now. It’ll really all come down to the colors. After seeing the Club WC ball, there’s a part of me that thinks Adidas will make three different color variants of the ball to represent each nation. Just think of how many sales they’d get.

UP NEXT
Our Pre-Season

Ah, it’s February. We’re almost there. Almost at the end of the offseason. We have big plans for this year and many more stories to tell from across the country. We’re all itching to kick off the 2025 soccer calendar. It’s gonna be a great one, no doubt.

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