One of Brian Schwake’s fondest soccer memories is of sitting in Chicago’s Soldier Field, his 5-year-old face painted red-white-and-blue — complete with stars — as he cheered the U.S. men’s national team to a Gold Cup Final victory over Mexico in 2007.
Another occurred three years later, when he watched Landon Donovan score a thrilling stoppage-time goal against Algeria that pushed the U.S. into the Round of 16 at the World Cup.
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