Photo illustration by Anthony Mendolia
Barra Brava
Habitat: They have four dedicated sections at RFK Stadium (135, 136, 137, and 138), but they also have members throughout the stadium.
Visual Identification: They favor, as you might expect, red and black.
Defining Characteristics: The original barra-styled supporters' group, Barra Brava boasts more than 20 different nationalities influencing their group’s culture. Initially notorious for making RFK’s metal stands bounce up and down with frenetic jumping, the group expects active, constant, drum-punctuated support throughout the match.
Songs and Calls: “Vamos United” is the best-known of their Spanish chants.
District Ultras
Habitat: Sections 127 and 128
Visual Identification: The group has one of the most distinctive logos of the league’s supporters group – three Xs above two bars in a take on the D.C. city flag.
Defining Characteristics: In a word, tifo. The District Ultras claim loud, spirited support as the other United groups do, but it’s their sometimes elaborate, sometimes cheeky tifo that sets them apart.
Songs and Calls: The group’s Srdan Bastiac jokes, “This being MLS, if our chants were to be published, half the groups would change one word and imitate it.”
Screaming Eagles
Habitat: Sections 132, 133 and 134 of RFK, a section of the lower bowl they actually refer to as “the Nest”
Visual Identification: Some members favor Screaming Eagles-logo clothing, but as with the other United supporters' groups, red and black dominates.
Defining Characteristics: While Screaming Eagles and Barra Brava debate about which group was actually first, Screaming Eagles is foundational in American supporters' culture. Their choice of language is slightly different than their Barra Brava brethren, but they're still vocal in their support.
Songs and Calls: Member Ben Owen notes that their “Wings of an Eagle” take on the English “Wings of a Sparrow” is the most characteristic of their chants.
