Akash Jain Talks MLS and FIFA World Cup 2026
We're talking sports people! And not just any sport....the worlds most popular sport...SOCCER! Or American football. Or soccer. Akash Jain is a global business development and strategy executive with experience growing sports properties and establishing international operations across markets for leading organizations, including the United States Tennis Association (USTA), National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently the VP of Strategy and Planning at Major League Soccer. We talk about why historically soccer hasn't been as popular in the US, what has changed for US fans in the past 25 years, the relationship with FIFA and The National Women's Soccer League, what we can expect from the 2026 World Cup returning to North America, and why it will be the perfect (hopefully) post-pandemic celebration. Akash also talks about his journey opening up the first NBA offices in India, how he feels about his 5 years in Bombay growing the NBA, and we of course exchange a few India stories that may include a white tiger, Dwight Howard, and a 3 Idiots moment.
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (pdcn.co) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
We're talking sports people! And not just any sport....the worlds most popular sport...SOCCER! Or American football. Or soccer.
Akash Jain is a global business development and strategy executive with experience growing sports properties and establishing international operations across markets for leading organizations, including the United States Tennis Association (USTA), National Football League (NFL) and National Basketball Association (NBA). He is currently the VP of Strategy and Planning at Major League Soccer.
We talk about why historically soccer hasn't been as popular in the US, what has changed for US fans in the past 25 years, the relationship with FIFA and The National Women's Soccer League, what we can expect from the 2026 World Cup returning to North America, and why it will be the perfect (hopefully) post-pandemic celebration.
Akash also talks about his journey opening up the first NBA offices in India, how he feels about his 5 years in Bombay growing the NBA, and we of course exchange a few India stories that may include a white tiger, Dwight Howard, and a 3 Idiots moment.