Ready, (Jet)-Set, Go for United Cinderellas New Mexico

No matter where they play, there will be New Mexico United colors in the stands. The firm ethic of Somos Unidos (We are United) is the drumbeat, the rhythm section, that’s made this Albuquerque-based Division II club one of the Open Cup’s most fearsome opponents and readyest Cupsetters.

“We, as fans, give nothing but pure energy for the whole game,” said Erin Reil, member of the Curse, the club’s official supporters group since it began life in 2019. “Flags and scarves are up for the whole game – and while winning is great, we love the team win, lose or draw. It’s what we’re here for.”

At home, in the baseball stadium United shares with a local minor league baseball team, the Curse occupy the first ten rows of section 110, down the third-base line near home plate. They’re the thumping heart of a club that’s taken as its unofficial Open Cup slogan: New Mexico United vs. Everybody.

Every player at every club in the world will likely tell you that it’s they who have the best fans in the game. But the connection between the players on the field and the folks in the stands at New Mexico United does seem extra special – and it genuinely goes both ways. “Our fans are electric,” said Daniel Bruce, veteran midfielder who Reil refers to as her ‘Angel Boy’ and who she once was thrilled to run into at a local high school marching band competition.

“They’re the 12th man without a doubt – in their seats early and letting us know they’re there,” added Bruce, who’s been at New Mexico United every year there’s been a New Mexico United.

Just how did this quirky love affair between a second-division soccer club and the city of Albuquerque begin, you ask? Let’s start at the beginning. New Mexico United was born in 2019 from the fertile ashes of lower league precursors Albuquerque Sol and the New Mexico Chiles, who reached the Open Cup Semifinals in 1991 before the Modern Era of our tournament began.

Whether the city would wrap its arms around a new club, playing in the country’s second tier, was an open question. It was answered on March 9th, the first home game in club history – played in front of a crowd of nearly 13,000 fans.

Start of Something Big

On May 5th of that same year, against San Antonio FC in league play, United drew a crowd of more than 15,000. “It broke the record for baseball and soccer,” said Steve Reil, Erin’s husband and a loyal member of the Curse.

From there, the legend grew. The yellow and black colorscape. The constant chanting. They’ve averaged over 10,000 fans at home games in each of their non-Covid seasons. They pack Isotopes Park and make it a distinctly hostile destination for visiting teams.

And that support doesn’t stop at the Albuquerque city limits. The club’s fans travel far and wide to back the black and yellow. Especially in the Open Cup.

The club’s inaugural year also kicked off an enduring love affair with America’s oldest soccer tournament. They were coached by Troy Lesesne, now enjoying life in the big leagues as head coach of D.C. United, and led on the field by local hero Devon Sandoval. They beat two MLS sides (Colorado Rapids and FC Dallas) while playing all of their games on the road.

“We’ve got history in this tournament,” said the England-born Bruce, the only player still in the squad from that historic 2019 side and very much the connective tissue of a hopeful yesterday and a confident-for-a-reason today.

It was a barnstorming 2019 that saw the first-year side reach our Quarterfinals. Such was the enthusiasm for that deep run that the club chartered a plane to make sure they’d have that Somos Unidos vibe alive at Minnesota United’s brand-new Allianz Field in the Last Eight.

“We had really high spirits on the plane to Minnesota for that Quarterfinal – a lot of call-and-response chants and happiness,” said Andrew Bolte, 44, a marketing professional for an Albuquerque-based credit union and a diehard member of the Curse in his down time. “And those five minutes that we had the lead, those were really amazing minutes I must say.”

After a start that had New Mexico fans and players dreaming of further glories, the game went wrong for the spirited visitors. It ended in a 6-1 loss to the St Paul-based MLS side, who would go on to reach the Final and lose by the odd goal to Atlanta United in front of a record crowd at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

But that first Open Cup run planted seeds that flourish to this day. In this year’s tournament, New Mexico United finally played their first home game.

RSL Feel the Curse

It was a hot night in the high desert when Real Salt Lake came to town for a Round of 32 game as heavy favorites. “It was a big night for the club, and the fans – who are always amazing – were amazing again,” said Zico Bailey, who scored twice in a Cupset win that night.

Members of the Curse never wavered in their support. The win meant another road trip – this time to New York City for the Round of 16. True to form, there was more than a smattering of yellow and black in the stands for the game against NYCFCII despite the thousands of miles between Isotopes Park and Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University.

Now, ahead of a second-ever trip to the Quarterfinals – this time at former MLS Champion LAFC’s house – there will be two planes to ferry the Curse and assorted fans the 800 or so miles to Southern California. One just wouldn’t be enough.

“I was just lucky to click the link at the right time,” said Steve Reil about getting himself on the manifest for one of the flights to Southern California to cheer on an NMU side who sit atop the USL Championship’s western conference. “The first plane sold out in 45 seconds.”

The first plane was sponsored by First Financial Credit Union and Blake's Lotaburger – both New Mexico-based companies. A second plane sold out just as fast. Though not a charter affair, that one’s subsidized in part by Spear D Construction so as to make it more affordable for fans. It’s all charming and local and a great example of how so-called lower-league teams can do big things on and off the field.

“The excitement of being on the plane with a hundred fans and players and staff is really something hard to describe,” Steve Reil added about the club he loves and another chance to share in a special moment.

Yellow-and-Black in LA

In addition to the two full plane loads of New Mexico United fans, the club’s Vice President for Media and Impact, David Wiese-Carl (himself plucked from the ranks of the Curse), estimates another 400 or so will make the trip to LA via (other) planes, trains and automobiles.

“We’ve found something people can really rally behind here,” said Bolte, born and raised in Albuquerque, about how the city has embraced its new soccer club. “People take pride in this club here and they make it part of their lives. It’s special. Beating MLS teams is special, going on these journeys is special too.”

Not just happy to be there, Bolte points to New Mexico United’s record against MLS opposition in the Open Cup since 2019 as reason for optimism. “We have a winning record against them,” he said of the 3-wins-and-2-losses record against teams from the top flight. “And we want to keep it going.”

“We expect to see some really great soccer and some of that Cup Magic,” concluded Erin Reil ahead of the trip out to LA, before her husband, devoted partner in New Mexico United’s glories and sorrows, chimed in: “A Cupset sure would be nice.”

Fontela is editor-in-chief of usopencup.com. Follow him at @jonahfontela on X/Twitter.