American Soccer's Future is 'All About Access' - Ed Foster-Simeon

American Soccer's Future is 'All About Access' - Ed Foster-Simeon

Author: Simon Evans July 17, 2026 Duration: 33:46
Every four years the same debate resurfaces after a US World Cup exit: pay-to-play, access, and why the world's most inclusive sport still has a class problem in America. Ed Foster-Simeon, CEO of the US Soccer Foundation, has heard it all before — and argues the industry keeps asking the wrong question. Instead of fixating on elite player development, he makes the case that talent identification is a volume problem: you can't find good players in communities that don't have anywhere to play. Foster-Simeon walks through how the Foundation is closing that gap — nearly 1,000 mini-pitches built toward a 2026 target, 1.6 million youth reached through school and after-school programming, and a funding model that leans on philanthropy. We get into what actually moves the needle on access, why "sticky" community engagement matters more than chasing the next elite prospect, and what it'll take — money, policy, and a shift in how the game's value gets pitched to donors — to make soccer as culturally embedded in under-resourced communities as it already is in the suburbs.

Simon Evans brings his deep knowledge of the sports industry to The Soccer Business Podcast, a series dedicated to the intricate and rapidly evolving commercial landscape of soccer in North America. Each episode features conversations with prominent personalities and key players who are shaping the game off the pitch. You'll hear candid discussions that go beyond the headlines, delving into the real-world strategies of club-building, league expansion, and major infrastructure projects like new stadiums. The dialogue consistently explores the critical financial engines of the sport: sponsorship deals, marketing innovations, and the flow of investment that determines which clubs thrive. This isn't just about scores and transfers; it's a clear-eyed examination of how business decisions made in boardrooms directly impact the sport we watch on the field. For anyone curious about the economic forces and ambitious personalities driving soccer's growth across the continent, this podcast offers essential listening. Evans guides these complex topics with a journalist's insight, making each interview both informative and engaging for fans and professionals alike.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Soccer Business Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Marc Spiegel - the first American to buy a Liga MX club [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
Marc Spiegel made history in 2025 by becoming the first American to take majority ownership of a Liga MX club. In this episode, the Querétaro FC chairman explains why he sees Mexican soccer as the most exciting investmen…
Messi, Chelsea, Netflix and Vegas - The Soccer Business News Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:00
Lionel Messi buys a club in Spain. A plan for a new soccer stadium in Vegas? Netflix move into North American soccer, Chelsea's heavy losses and those transport prices for the World Cup in New York/New Jersey. Simon Evan…
Record losses in English football - Kieran Maguire Interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:21
EFL clubs are suffering record losses but there is no shortage of (American) investors willing to take on the challenge of trying to make it to the Premier League. Football finance expert Kieran Maguire joins Simon and A…
Zlatan on Fox And Reaching The American Soccer Fan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:45
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 Cracki…
Messi's True Miami Deal, Soccer Lifestyle and NWSL expansion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:20
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 discus…