From Twitter question to reality, Dead Presidents USA emerges as alternative for U.S. national team supporters

What started as a simple Twitter brainstorm several weeks ago might have birthed a new U.S. Supporters group — and Friday's match between the United States and England, and a Houston watch party, might provide a test for the viability of the new coalition of fans.

The Twitter account of Olive & York, the jersey retailer that created alternative U.S. men's national team jerseys for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, forwarded a rather pointed question nine days ago, targeting primary U.S. soccer supporters' group American Outlaws (without naming them outright, but in light of some recent online conversations, seemingly implying them). The tweet generated enough enthusiasm from U.S. fans to indicate there might be an appetite for a new group in the fan mix. 

Starting with the Dead Presidents name, which won in a Twitter poll landside over Yanks United, the new group has developed a logo, Olive & York-created merchandise, and over 30 fledgling chapters across the country. 

There's also a Discord server, started by Ryan LeFaivre of the Houston chapter, which is beginning to connect members. 

"It just started as a simple Twitter question of what would you name a new USA supporters group," explained Michael Schafer of Olive & York, who launched the @deadprezusa Twitter account once momentum sprung up. "Someone mentioned Dead Presidents and people loved that one, so I made a logo for it. I came back to Twitter to see that multiple people had started accounts for their city's chapter."

Though at least one chapter tweeted from a new account literally saying "still working on figuring out what to do with this chapter" but here's our logo, those tweets exhibit a desire to get something going — whatever that something might be, 

Texas chapters in Austin and El Paso have also announced a presence and open-to-all messaging.

Currently, the website for the group lists 33 chapters for U.S. cities and one for Canada. Houston's group was the first to announce a watch party for Friday's FIFA World Cup encounter between the United States and England.

"I would say the Houston chapter, and Atlanta, really decided themselves to make this a real thing," Schafer said. "Houston started the Discord for all of the groups and I think that's getting pretty busy now, and Atlanta is working on assembling a volunteer board. Chicago and Des Moines have been helping others with their logos."

Houston's Friday gathering at Second Draught (4201 Main Street, Suite 130), adding to Space City's growing list of World Cup watch parties, will be among the first recorded gathering of group members to "debut" this new alternative fan club of the U.S. men's and women's national teams, though at least two other chapters of the new group — in Atlanta and New Jersey — have plans to gather on Friday.

"My friends and I have been wanting to start a US supporter group for a while now," LeFaivre claims. "Sure, we could had tried one of the other groups and some of us have, but at the end of the day this is new and we can shape it how we want it to be." 

Some of the new Dead Presidents members in Houston have a working familiarity with one another, being part of The Surge supporting the Houston Dash and Houston Dynamo, but aim to grow the group beyond those ranks as it evolves. 

“We will continue to host watch parties," he promised. "It might not always be at Second Draught, but we will figure out our more permanent home soon," noting that they'll use the Houston chapter's Twitter account at @deadprezhouston as well as Discord to communicate with new fans. 

"This whole thing has been crazy," he marveled, "and the Dead Presidents are really only four days old.”