Elton John Owned An American Soccer Team

At the height of his fame, Elton John bought a soccer team in America — and somehow convinced Man United legend George Best to join him in LA. This week, we look back at the Rocket Man’s fascinating chapter with soccer in our country. Plus, we head to Nashville with the Soccer Bus, dive into Ronaldo’s potential return to America, and more.

This week’s stories:

• 🤠 The Soccer Bus in Nashville Today!

• 🇵🇹 Cristiano Ronaldo to Return to the US

• 🚀 Elton John Owned An American Soccer Team

• 🔮 Shaping the Future of Memorabilia

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

CLUBELEVEN
The Soccer Bus in Nashville Today!

NASHVILLE 🚌!! The Soccer Bus will make its way to GEODIS Park today for a very special stop on our American Soccer Tour.

After more than 8,000 miles on the road, it’s an honor to bring this traveling American soccer museum to Music City.

It’s a stop we’ve wanted to make ever since meeting some amazing supporters as we drove by earlier in the year, and we couldn’t be more excited to come back for this Open Cup semifinal night. 

If you’re in the area, come check it out! Here’s all the info.

CULTURE
Cristiano Ronaldo to Return to the US

The greatest goalscorer to ever live seems poised to make his return to America after eleven long years.

The USMNT is allegedly finalizing details to schedule a friendly against Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta in March of 2026.

This would be Ronaldo’s first game in the US since 2014, when he came for a summer friendly with Real Madrid.

Here’s everything we know so far…

COVER STORY
Elton John Owned An American Soccer Team

The great Rocket Man took American soccer to new heights in the ‘70s… kinda.

True to his style, Elton John’s involvement with soccer in our country was as flashy as you could imagine.

The year was 1975, and the LA Aztecs were fresh off winning a championship in their debut season in the NASL. Despite success on the field, the team was struggling to bring in fans, and they found themselves in a precarious financial situation.

The first order of business was finding new investors as soon as possible, and by coincidence, the stars aligned.

Elton John was playing a concert in LA and had long wanted to own a piece of a soccer club. Not long after his now iconic show at Dodger Stadium, he would end up purchasing a 50% stake of the LA Aztecs for $350,000. Mere pennies for the British superstar.

Some have debated the details of the deal, though. Some speculate he may not have bought a stake at all, but rather licensed the team his name, while others suggest he only bought 1-2% of the club.

Regardless, things worked out perfectly for the Aztecs.

Elton John was able to lure Manchester United legend George Best to the NASL, and he put his fame to good use in other ways, too.

Most notably, the league gave the Aztecs permission to have Elton John sit on the team bench during games (as long as he wasn’t wearing a uniform)—a move that drew eyeballs from all over the world. Peak NASL.

And if you were wondering where the pictures at the top of this email come from, well, that was Elton John participating in George Best’s unveiling. He took part in passing drills and in an abysmal penalty shootout where he scored only one out of his five attempts. I guess you can’t be good at everything.

Still, what an honor to know the great Elton John contributed his little grain of sand toward growing the sport in this country.

Overall, a pretty cool story to close out this lead-up to our bus stop in Music City.

TUESDAY SPOTLIGHT
DJ Skee: Shaping the Future of Memorabilia

This visionary DJ, entrepreneur, and lifelong collector has spent his career bridging worlds — from music to sports to culture. Now, DJ Skee (Scott Keeney) is channeling that same energy into The Realest, an innovative venture making it easier for collectors and fans to own the most trusted collectibles in the world.

In this Tuesday Spotlight, he reflects on his journey from childhood baseball cards to game-worn soccer cleats, his friendship with Clint Dempsey, and his mission to shape the future of memorabilia in the soccer world and beyond.

Read the Q&A right here!

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

Let us know your predictions, and back them up! We’ll highlight your best answers next week.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

Zohran: The NYC mayoral candidate had a couple of things to say to FIFA… and he did so while showcasing his impressive soccer skills. 

Cheers: These two sides will have a shot at taking the inaugural expanded USL Jägermeister Cup. Who’ve you got in the final?

Pitches in Peril: A must-read. Last week, Football For Future dropped a landmark report with star players, climate scientists, and thousands of soccer fans—exposing how climate change is already reshaping the game we love. The organization’s founder will be speaking about the report at NYC Climate Week on 9/23. Check it out!

Emergency: Racing Louisville star Savannah DeMelo collapsed on the pitch over the weekend in her team’s game against Seattle Reign. Thankfully, she was reported to be “stable and alert” a few hours later. Wishing her a speedy recovery 🙏

Wholesome: One of the most heartwarming goal celebrations you’ll ever see! Watch it here.

FASHION
Sac Republic Fauxback Kit

What if Sac Republic had existed back in the ‘90s? That’s the bold inspiration behind this new official kit and capsule from SRFC x Authmade x Hummel.

A retro what-if. A look that never was, but should've been. Oversized wordmarks, a fierce mascot, striking patterns, a classy collar, and more of everything you could want out of a ‘90s kit.

You can find it here. Love it!

RECORDS
MLS Goalfest

Probably one of my favorite things in soccer: watching records being beaten.

This past weekend, we had the honor of witnessing the most goals ever scored in a single MLS matchday.

Absolutely brilliant. This is the new number to beat.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: How many times a week do you play soccer? Here are some of your answers:

• “None. I like learning about soccer and watching it, but I'm a horrible player on the pitch 😂” - Dario

• “Two to Three. Not that I’m very good, but I use it as a way to stay active and make friends.” - JF

In the poll, “Two to Three” won with about 45% of the vote, while “None” received 33%. 

If you need any inspiration to go out and play, look no further than here!

UP NEXT
Open Cup Semifinal in Nashville

Cannot wait for tonight! Feels great to be back in Nashville and do a proper Soccer Bus stop in Tennessee.

Also, tomorrow (on the other side of the bracket), we’ll get to find out who will host the Open Cup Final. It’s a game that will, of course, determine where we’ll have to head next with the bus. Austin or Minneapolis? Both incredibly far, but we’ll figure out a way to get there. Onwards!!

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