The Actor From Titanic Who Won the US Open Cup

The greatest soccer story to come out of Hollywood. This week, in honor of the 2026 US Open Cup kicking off, we look back at the time an award-winning actor lifted the most prestigious trophy in our country. Plus, we examine the upcoming World Cup rule changes, dive into an immigrant soccer league in Vermont, and more.

This week’s stories:

• 🌳 Vermont’s Immigrant Soccer League

• 📘 World Cup Rule Changes

• 🎭 The Actor From Titanic Who Won the US Open Cup

• 🦢 Record-Breaking Legacy

• 🗳️ Poll + Last Week’s Answers

• ➡️ And More

SOCIETY
Vermont’s Immigrant Soccer League

We made it to Burlington on Sunday night and had the chance of attending a screening of La Liga, a documentary film focusing on immigrant dairy farmers in Vermont who, in the face of tremendous isolation, formed a pickup soccer league.

The film follows the minimum wage-earning population that is keeping dairy farming alive in Vermont as they navigate the overwhelming pressures of persecution and harassment at work and beyond.

Yet, in the face of grueling challenges, they continue to build and fight towards a better future for their community in every way they can—including through the beautiful game.

You can learn more about their story and support them here!

WC2026
World Cup Rule Changes

It’s official! Just like at most World Cups, get ready for a few rule changes to be implemented this summer.

Some of the major ones aim to reduce time wasting and speed up play overall, but it will be pretty weird to see a couple of these adopted.

There’s one that really does change how the game is played overall…

COVER STORY
The Actor From Titanic Who Won the US Open Cup

Eric Braeden may just be the most interesting man in the world.

He’s an Emmy-winning actor, featured in huge films like Titanic, and… [checks notes]… won the US Open Cup in 1973.

See, before adopting the stage name “Eric Braeden,” he was Hans-Jörg Gudegast, a German immigrant who was obsessed with the beautiful game.

So much so that while trying to make it as an actor in Los Angeles, his main sources of income were bussing tables at local restaurants and playing for LA United, earning $15 per game.

Eventually, right as his acting career was taking off, Braeden joined Maccabee LA, a Jewish club that had been founded by Holocaust survivors.

At the time, Braeden had landed a role on Rat Patrol—where he played the sinister Nazi Afrika Korps Captain, Hans Dietrich Hauptmann—and he’d often be spotted playing pickup soccer games with his Maccabee teammates on the set of the show.

“We’d play soccer between scenes, and I’d still be in my damned Nazi boots,” he recalls.

In the end, all those extra sessions seem to have paid off, as Maccabee LA won the US Open Cup Final in 1973 with Braeden playing as a fullback. He even scored a goal in that decisive game!

But that’s only a small part of Braeden’s insane life story, which includes having watched a Copa del Rey game at the Santiago Bernabeu sitting alongside Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, and General Francisco Franco. Read more here.

CLUBELEVEN
The Supporters Section

We’ll highlight your best answers next week!

EXPANSION
Record-Breaking Legacy

We waited 907 days for this one, and getting to cover it was an absolute dream come true!

The Legacy set a new NWSL record for the highest-attended inaugural home opener with a crowd of 30,207 fans, which was simply incredible.

And well, after having waited so long for this one spectacular moment in American soccer history, we did our best to slow things down and capture every detail, minute by minute.

CLUBELEVEN
Aggregates

New USA Kits: If I’m being completely honest, these may just be the best USMNT kits for a World Cup I’ve seen in my lifetime. What do you think?

Logan Roy is a Gooner: Succession fans check this one out. The iconic Logan Roy at the Emirates!

Blast from the Past: This is probably the last place I ever expected to see a Baltimore Blast hoodie out in the wild…

From Maine to Manhattan: Awesome to see Lady Shuckers catering the Hearts event in NYC. One of my favorite memories from our travels is trying their oysters by the corner flag at Fort Fitzy!

Oscars: First time ever that a Premier League owner has won an Academy Award. Huge!!

CULTURE
The Return of the Cosmos

They say stars never really die…and that’s how it’s been with the Cosmos. Arguably, the most iconic franchise in American soccer history.

Over the years, we’ve heard countless stories of what it meant to those who watched Pelé, Beckenbauer, Chinaglia, Eskandarian, and dozens of other legends dazzle crowds of thousands at the old Giants Stadium. 

Earlier this century, we never really had the chance to catch Cosmos 2.0 during the first revival, but third time’s the charm! Cosmos forever!!

OUR HISTORY
The Day Soccer Stood Still

A few days ago, it was the sixth anniversary of when MLS shut down because of COVID-19.

It truly boggles my mind that it was that long ago, but I figured it’d be a good time then to look back at the MLS is Back Tournament from the lockdown era.

So, here is an oral history on what it was like to be in the MLS bubble, from the players themselves.

CLUBELEVEN
Your Takes 🗯️ 

Last week, we asked you: Are you attending an NWSL game on opening weekend? Here are some of your answers:

• “Yes, San Diego!” - Steve N.

• “Yes, Boston Legacy. It should be a fun one.” - CL

In the poll, “Yes” and “No” virtually tied at 50%. It was great to hear that folks went out to NWSL opening weekend, and hopefully everyone had an amazing time!

UP NEXT
The Biggest Game of 2026

We’re freezing up in Vermont (that’s us on the icy shore of Lake Champlain), but we’re so excited for the game between the Portland Hearts and Vermont Green later tonight.

Some might say, the biggest match of the year and one of the most important in New England soccer history.

Over 10,000 people are said to have applied for the ~2k tickets available!

If you’re in the area and are looking for a way in, keep an eye out on our IG stories today for a little “miracle” 👀 🎟️

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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