An improved system for more uniformly distributing gaseous fuel over the anode surface of a fuel cell, comprising an interconnect subassembly for electrically connecting anodes and cathodes of adjacent fuel cells in a fuel cell stack. The subassembly includes a perforated plate disposed adjacent the anode surface. The plate may be parallel to or inclined to the anode surface and forms a first wall of a fuel plenum for uniformly distributing fuel via the perforations over the entire surface of the anode. The second wall of the plenum is a plate separating the fuel flow from air flowing across the cathode. Electrical continuity across the interconnect subassembly may be provided, for example, by non-planar upsets such as bumps and dimples in the two plenum plate components, or by metallic foam or filaments disposed between the plates and the electrodes.