The Soccer Business Podcast

Writer Andres Martinez is the author of a new book on American Soccer 'The Great Game - A Tale of Two Football's And America's Quesst to Conquer Global Sport' which is a deep dive into how American soccer has moved in from the fringes of society to the mainstream and how America's traditional sports are, in turn, seeking to spread their reach globally. In this conversation with Simon Evans, host of The Soccer Business, Andres explores the role of culture and politics in keeping soccer out of the mainstream, soccer and identity in American society and the future for the sport.

This episode of the Soccer Business Podcast kicks off with a review of the week’s top headlines, beginning with the "kit war" between Nike and Adidas during recent US national team matches, where retro designs and "guerrilla marketing" took center stage. Hosts Simon Evans and Andre Da Costa celebrate the record-breaking debut of the Denver Summit, who drew 63,000 fans to an NFL stadium for their NWSL opener, and discuss the launch of Inter Miami’s state-of-the-art new stadium, the fresh home for Lionel Messi. The hosts also analyze the surprising departure of USL CEO Justin Papadakis as the league moves toward a model increasingly backed by private equity and institutional capital. The heart of the show features an in-depth interview with financial analyst Paul Quinn on the dramatic collapse of John Textor’s Eagle Football Group. Quinn deconstructs the failures of the Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) model, explaining how Textor’s empire became trapped by high-interest "PIK loans" and a sudden collapse in French media rights. The discussion reveals how financial engineering allowed money to be moved from successful clubs like Botafogo to cover losses at Olympique Lyonnais, a strategy that ultimately failed when the holding company was placed into administration in March 2026. Finally, the episode explores the broader implications for global soccer finance and the rising need for independent regulation. Quinn compares Textor’s risky financial structures to the Glazers’ leveraged buyout of Manchester United, highlighting the critical difference between clubs that can service their debt through cash flow and those that cannot. The conversation concludes with a look at the future of historic clubs like Lyon and Botafogo as they face potential sales, emphasizing the responsibility of owners as custodians of community assets rather than just speculative investors.

Simon and Andre report back from Atlanta on a busy week at the SBJ conference on the in North American soccer business. Arthur Blank, Mohammed Mansour and Don Garber made their marks with their contributions raising a number of big issues. Plus Will Mo Salah bring a 'Middle Eastern Messi' effect to MLS? And does women's soccer need to talk more like a business than a community venture?

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Joins Fox Sports: A Game Changer for World Cup Coverage? Is the Jordan Brand Ruining Brazil’s Iconic Kit? Why American Soccer Fans Are Talking About the '94 Denim Kit. Did Nike Miss a Trick? And Cracking the Code: How Brands Can Reach the 'New' American Soccer Fan Through Creators. Host Simon Evans is joined by regular guest Andre Da Costa and Darren Weber of Beautiful Game Consulting.

This week Simon and Andre look at Lionel Messi's growing equity stake in Inter Miami, Carlos Velas's investment in LAFC, a new soccer lifestyle product and in our deep dive Pardeep Cattry of CSB Sports joins us to discuss the new NWSL season and the KPIs that Commissioner Jessica Berman will be looking out for.

In this week's interview Nicolas Garcia Hemme, Managing Director of LaLiga North America, provides details on how the Spanish league has been sweeping up lucrative partnership deals with the likes of McDonalds and Walmart while continuing to grow their fan-base across the region. Is LaLiga replacing LigaMX as the preferred partner for brands looking to reach the Hispanic soccer fan in the USA? Plus Simon and Andre dive into the USL labor dispute and the latest NWSL valuations.

MLS Next Pro President Ali Curtis discusses the league's expansion plans, their new broadcast deal and role of the league in growing the game across the United States and much more in this week's Soccer Business interview. Plus Andre Da Costa joins Simon to go over the big stories in North American soccer business news.

In this week's Soccer Business Podcast - Simon Evans and Andre Da Costa quickly go over the main talking points from the week in North American soccer business before our feature interview - a deep dive into the revenue strategy at Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur with Chief Revenue Officer Ryan Norys. Find out about how Spurs maximize their state-of-the-art stadium 7-days a week, how they engage with global fans and a hint of some of their future plans as Ryan provides valuable insights into the modern business of a top club.

Simon Evans is joined by Erik Stover, CEO of the New York Cosmos, who are about to begin their new life in USL and soccer market analyst Andre Da Costa. As well as examining the return of the Cosmos brand and the work being undertaken in New Jersey, we look at the recently announced plans for USL Premier and the broader ambitions for the introduction of promotion and relegation for USL.

The Bundesliga signed a 17-year partnership with Relevent Sports to boost their performance in the U.S. market and the broader Americas market. What is the strategy for the German league as they seek to enhance their business performance and profile in the Americas? Robin Austermann, head of Europe and Latam for the Bundesliga joins Simon Evans on The Soccer Business Podcast to break down that deal and the overall strategy for standing out in a crowded market of international soccer properties looking to establish themselves in the U.S market.

Alan Rothenberg was the President of US Soccer and took charge of the hosting of the 1994 World Cup in the United States. He then helped set up Major League Soccer and has been an influential figure in taking the game from the backwaters of the 1980's to the modern era. Alan's new book, 'The Big Bounce - The Surge that Shaped the Future of U.S Soccer' is the inside story on the hosting of the 1994 World Cup and he joins host Simon Evans to discuss the book and his remarkable career as a true game-changer in the American soccer business.

This episode reviews the key decisions from the MLS Board of Governors meeting: MLS content will move from Season Pass into the Apple TV subscription bundle, and the league will shift to a new summer-to-spring calendar starting in 2027 with a transitional mini "sprint" season. Host Simon Evans and guest Alex Silverman of the Sports Business Journal discuss the rationale behind the Apple deal changes, potential audience and revenue implications, how the new schedule affects transfer windows and players, and unanswered questions on playoffs, contract length and distribution.

Simon Evans interviews Court Jeske, a veteran soccer executive whose career spans MLS, USL and founding Nashville SC. They discuss his role leading the OKC Pro Soccer project, plans for a downtown, expandable 10,000–12,000-seat stadium, and the broader mixed-use development. The episode covers community engagement, private partners (including Russell Westbrook and tribal stakeholders), commercial strategy, timelines for launch, and concerns over how the 2026 World Cup can be leveraged to grow lasting local support for American soccer.

Host Simon Evans is joined by Alex Silverman of the Sports Business Journal and Jonathan Tannenwald of the Philadelphia Inquirer to go over this week's main news items impacting the North American soccer industry. LALIGA's Miami plans cancelled Apple TV and the MLS Playoffs - the F1 Factor? 2031 Women’s World Cup - the new Four Nations bid Brian McBride becomes GM of USL club Brooklyn FC NBA star Jimmy Butler invests in the NWSL's San Diego Wave.

Megan Oglesby of Carolina Core joins the podcast to discuss how she and her team created a new club from scratch in High Point, North Carolina. Megan goes through each stage of the journey from the initial idea, due diligence, early steps, stadium work, creating player pathways and delivering a state-of-the-art training facility that has been earmarked by FIFA as a potential World Cup base for a team. She also explains why she chose MLS Next Pro as the right league for the project over other alternatives and details the advantages of being an independent club in the Major League Soccer ecosystem. Plus why WPSL Pro could be prove to be the 'perfect bridge' between lower league women's soccer and the top flight NWSL and how a thriving soccer club can be at the heart of a community and local economy.

In this episode we welcome a true architect of American soccer - Sunil Gulati. Sunil is widely regarded as one of the most influential figure in the sport’s growth in the United States, having been involved in the administration of the game since the 1980’s and serving as president of the U.S. Soccer Federation from 2006 to 2018. With over 30 years of experience at every level of the game, Sunil continues to shape the future of soccer business. He is a senior lecturer in economics at Columbia University and Chairman of UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body. In this interview, Sunil looks at the growth of the game from the tough days of the 1980’s through the 1994 World Cup, the creation of Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League. He also gives us his thoughts on the prospects for USL and on the state of youth soccer. It’s a wide-ranging interview and I am sure you’ll find many insights. Before we get down to this interview - if you enjoy this podcast make sure that you are subscribed to our weekly newsletter - The Soccer Business. You can sign up for free at thesoccerbusiness.com

Michael Yormark of Roc Nation Sports International, who heads up the companies agency work in the soccer industry, talks to Simon Evans of The Soccer Business about the history of Jay Z's company, their move into soccer and their new plans to enter the domestic American soccer business. Chapters 00:00 Michael Yormach's Journey in Sports Management 03:53 Transitioning from NHL to European Soccer 08:41 Roc Nation's Unique Approach to Athlete Representation 11:49 Building Brands Beyond the Field 15:56 Navigating the European Soccer Landscape 19:22 Expanding into Brazil and Africa 22:00 Talent Scouting and Recruitment Strategies 25:01 The Challenge of American Soccer Representation 31:21 The Future of Soccer in America 37:43 Hash Out

Brett Johnson isn't just another American investor in English football - he is also building soccer in the USA with his USL club Rhode Island FC and their brand new stadium. Having cut his teeth in Phoenix, a friendship with former Ipswich player Frank Yallop led to his move into English football where he has tasted two promotions and a relegation. Find out Brett's views on Ipswich, the USL and the future of American club soccer. Chapters 00:00 Investing in Soccer: A Dual Approach 02:04 The Rise of USL: Opportunities and Challenges 07:37 Building a Soccer Community: The Rhode Island Project 11:19 Stadiums and Surrounding Development: A New Era 16:47 Promotion and Relegation: The Future of USL 22:12 Quality Over Quantity: Rethinking Stadium Standards 27:48 The Multi-Club Ownership Model: A New Strategy 35:34 Youth Soccer: Investing in the Future 37:12 The World Cup Effect: A Bright Future for Soccer in the US In this episode of the Soccer Business Podcast, host Simon Evans sits down with Brett Johnson, a unique figure in the soccer investment landscape. Brett Johnson has made significant strides in both American and English soccer, investing in clubs across different levels. His journey began over a decade ago in Phoenix, where he acquired a Division III club, Arizona United, and transformed it into Phoenix Rising. This venture was marked by the recruitment of notable figures like Didier Drogba, who joined the ownership group and played for the team. Brett's passion for soccer extends beyond the US, as he has also invested in Ipswich Town in England. His love for English football, where he spent a significant part of his life, drives his belief that true soccer investment must include a presence in England. Brett's approach to soccer investment is not just about owning clubs but also about creating sustainable models that integrate stadiums with surrounding real estate developments. This strategy has been successfully implemented in Rhode Island, where he has developed a $140 million stadium, transforming it into a vibrant live-work-play destination. Throughout the episode, Brett shares insights into the challenges and opportunities within the USL and MLS landscapes, emphasizing the importance of quality over quantity in stadium development and the potential of USL as a premier development league. His vision for the future includes leveraging the USL's strengths to attract international talent and investment, positioning it as a key player in the global soccer ecosystem. Brett's story is one of innovation, passion, and a deep commitment to the growth of soccer both in the United States and abroad.

USL Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer Justin Papadakis reveals how the league is in talks with over 70 cities in the USA about building new soccer stadiums and bringing new clubs to communities across the country. Takeaways There's real momentum in the USL. The USL's approach to stadium development is unique. City partnerships are crucial for stadium financing. Stadiums are seen as community assets by cities. The fan experience is central to stadium design. Financing stadiums involves complex political and economic factors. The scale of stadium projects varies across USL. New stadiums can significantly increase revenue for clubs. Media presentation is vital for attracting viewers. Investor interest in USL is growing rapidly. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to USL Stadium Developments 02:48 The Unique USL Approach to Stadium Building 05:51 City Partnerships and Economic Impact 09:10 Fan Experience and Entertainment Districts 12:00 Financing and Municipal Support for Stadiums 14:51 The Scale of Stadium Projects in USL 17:58 The Economics of Soccer Venues 20:55 Revenue Streams and Future Growth 24:00 Media Presentation and Broadcast Quality 26:50 Regional Development and Market Trends 30:06 Investor Interest in USL 32:58 The Future of Soccer in America

La Liga's attempt top play the first ever European league regular season game in the USA was given a boost this week when the Spanish federation backed their plan. But many hurdles remain before this plan can become reality with Real Madrid and others opposed and UEFA, CONCACAF, US Soccer and FIFA having to approve. We look in detail at Javier Tebas' plans and the motivation for it with ESPN's Spain Correspondent Sam Marsden.

Rio Ferdinand, the former Manchester United and England defender turned pundit and broadcaster recently left his role with TNT Sport in the UK to focus fully on his own content production and the rest of his business portfolio. Rio talks to Simon Evans about his new plans for his video content business, his role as an agent, the future for American soccer, the nature of the soccer business from a player's perspective and his advice for players planning their post-playing career options. It's an interview jam-packed with insight and perspective from one of the leading voices of Premier League and Champions League soccer coverage and one of the early adopters of the 'player as brand' approach.

Simon and Alex Silverman of the Sports Business Journal were in Austin this week for the MLS Board of Governor's meeting and other business events around the All Star Game and they break-down the main takeaways in this pod. Find out about how MLS's relationship with Apple is 'evolving' - the calendar realignment progress, the looming CBA talks, competition format changes and much more in this in-depth episode.

Xavier Sanchez, the Commercial Director of Liga MX club Monterrey, joins the podcast to discuss his club's strategy in the U.S. market. Discover how Monterrey has thousands of fans in the USA including some who have little connection to Mexico but have developed a deep passion for the Rayados. Learn how the club connects with these fans throughout the season. Xavier also gives his thoughts in Leagues Cup, Concacaf Champions Cup and the Club World Cup and how international competition helps boost his club's profile internationally.

This week's guest is Olek Loewenstein is President of Global Sports at TelevisaUnivision, the world's leading Spanish-language media company. In our conversation, Olek talks about how his company approach soccer coverage and content for the Hispanic market; the changing habits of the viewer; the modern fan's loyalties and where non-Hispanic brands can get it wrong. Plus some early insights into how the Club World Cup performed among Spanish language viewers.

In our first Soccer Business 'News Focus' episode Jonathan Tannenwald, soccer correspondent with the Philadelphia Inquirer, joins Simon to discuss the opening week of the Club World Cup from a business point of view. We look at attendances, ticket-prices, marketing and the cultural impact of the tournament.

Multi Club Ownership (MCO) is in the news because of the situation involving Crystal Palace and Lyon who are both owned by American John Textor. UEFA is currently evaluating how to proceed given that both clubs qualified for the Europa League for next season and regulations forbid two teams with the same owner from playing in the same competition. Brian Anderson of Sheppard Mullin in Los Angeles has deep knowledge of MCO set-ups and he joins the podcast to go over the issues. Brian also digs into the pros and cons of MCO in general and we look at how the model might work better for the women's game.

Leading expert on streaming Dan Rayburn brings his sharp analysis to dissect the MLS deal with Apple - is it working and will it last the full 10 years? In this wide-ranging, deep dive we also look at soccer on ESPN+, Paramount+ and ask whether the fans of the game are being well served and what the future may be for soccer streaming in the USA?

MLS is 30 years old - how did it go from an idea after the 1994 World Cup to become the 30-team league it is today? Norm O'Reilly, co-author of a new book 'The Rise of Major League Soccer - Building a Global Giant' joins Simon to examine the growth of the league through difficult early years to the recent boom in valuations and the arrival of Lionel Messi. Where does MLS go from here? Can it really become a top three league in the world?

Canadian Soccer Business, which handles the commercial rights for the Canadian men and women's teams, along with the Canadian Premier League and runs the One Soccer broadcast platform have appointed James Johnson, the CEO of Football Australia, as their new chief executive. Fresh of the announcement of his appointment, James talked to Simon Evans and The Soccer Business Podcast about his vision for the future of Canada's main soccer properties.

Dave Checketts is a sports business titan. He has served in C-suite roles or been an owner of the Utah Jazz, New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New York Liberty, Madison Square Garden (MSG), Legends Hospitality and the St. Louis Blues. Checketts founded MLS's Real Salt Lake. He has extensive experience in private equity sports investment and is a director of Premier League club Burnley. He recently launched a $1.2 billion fund with the Eccles Family called the Cynosure | Checketts Sports Capital Fund.

Jordan Gardner, an expert on US investment in English and European soccer - who has hands on experience in such deals and in clubs bought by Americans, dives into the main issues and trends around the continuing growth of US ownership of clubs.

Soccer specific stadiums are sprouting up all across the country and leading stadium design expert Chris DeVolder is our guest as we explore the past, present and future of the American soccer venue.

USL President Paul McDonough talks about the league's ambitious plans for a new top-tier league and to introduce promotion and relegation for the first time in the US club soccer system. Paul reveals interest from foreign investments and discusses the challenges and choices facing the league as it seeks to expand.

Breaking news on The Soccer Business Podcast - Cleveland is launching a new professional women's and men's teams and Gina Prodan Kelly CMO of Cleveland Soccer Group outlines all the plans on the show. In yet more news - the women's team will play in a brand new new division two women's league - WPSL Pro. Gina explains the journey to finally bring Cleveland the pro soccer teams that the city has been craving.

Former Liverpool and EA Sports CEO Peter Moore is the founder/owner of Santa Barbara Sky in California, which will join the USL Championship next season. Peter reflects on his journey in the game and explains his plans for creating the new club and the philosophy behind it. Dive into the lessons he learnt from his time working with the Fenway Sports Group at Anfield, his involvement in the Wrexham story and the hugely successful FIFA game.

In the first episode of our series THE PITCH, Simon Evans and Paul Woodhouse of The Soccer Business are joined by two guests with extensive experience of working in the area of brands and soccer: Shawn Francis, an executive creative director who has worked on soccer projects with the likes of Nike and EA Sports and Brian Quarles, Chief Creative Officer at rEvolution who has led a number of major soccer campaigns. Discover what the soccer brand and culture is? What do brands look for in soccer properties? How clubs can become brands of a city? And so much more.

Alexi Lalas joins Simon Evans to discuss a range of issues surrounding American soccer as we approach one year out from the World Cup. MLS, USL, Pro/Rel, 'Pay to Play' and much, much more is examined in this in-depth interview.

Former MLS executive Michael Hitchcock is a serial soccer start-up expert having invested in and launched 20 clubs across the United States and beyond. He talks about community focus, marketing, ticketing and how to build a new club from the ground up. 00:00 The Journey Begins: Michael Hitchcock's Soccer Career 03:02 Building the Game: Early Days in MLS 06:06 Investing in the Future: Lower Division Soccer 09:02 Community Connection: The Heart of Soccer Clubs 11:50 Creating Opportunities: The Role of Local Ownership 14:58 Stadiums and Community: The Importance of Venue 18:09T he Unique Culture of Soccer in America 27:17 Innovative Stadium Solutions 29:20 Investment Opportunities in Lower Division Soccer 31:30 The Birth of Virtual Vice President 35:59 Cost-Saving Strategies in Soccer Operations 39:59 The Future of American Soccer Post-2026 World Cup

Brief introduction to The Soccer Business Podcast from host Simon Evans.