Nations & Numbers: Group L — The Financial, Cultural and Commercial Stakes of the 2026 World Cup

The Man Who Built Modern Soccer in America | Alan Rothenberg

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup underway across the United States, Canada and Mexico, there’s no better time to revisit one of the most important conversations we've ever had on Finance of Football. Long before MLS, packed soccer-specific stadiums, billion-dollar club valuations, and the arrival of global stars like David Beckham and Lionel Messi, there was Alan Rothenberg. As CEO of the 1994 FIFA World Cup, founder of Major League Soccer, former President of U.S. Soccer, and one of the key architects of modern soccer in America, Rothenberg helped transform the sport from a niche interest into one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. In this episode, Alan reflects on: • How the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics convinced FIFA that America could host the World Cup • The strategy behind the groundbreaking 1994 FIFA World Cup • Building MLS from scratch • The growth of women's soccer and the legacy of the 1999 Women's World Cup • Why he believes the World Cup should expand to 64 teams • What success looks like for the 2026 FIFA World Cup • The future of MLS, media rights, club valuations and soccer investment If you've ever wondered how soccer became a major force in the United States, this is the story from the man who helped make it happen. #WorldCup2026 #USSoccer #MLS #AlanRothenberg #FinanceOfFootball #FIFAWorldCup #SoccerBusiness #FootballBusiness --- For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram Asli - @brefootcontessa [https://www.instagram.com/brefootcontessa/] Michael - @michale.lore [https://www.instagram.com/michael.lore] And follow the show… On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2VKZ19YeWZ4YTRiQl9XOWRyQzNuRWM4WGl2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttV3g3SVpTVkR6LVNKZjBqaWxzeUFsYVhqdXJRVzBnYmZITVBYcEE3ck5VUFlBWWl1enhmeHFKOG1ZYnNfX1lQb2huYzdvZ1ZNaHVlVDR2Z1V6QmxVWXBBVDZCN0kxQVdUbFRTdklkcTk4M2ZLbmRoNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffinanceoffootballpod%2F] On Facebook - /financeoffootball [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlvUkNpYzZDMGVNdVd2a0cySzB5TnFFNnk3d3xBQ3Jtc0tsSkV6MnBpNWJwbVZ3Z2NiSmNUaVk2R2Fac004ZFlxX3dyTHNWTUxON1YwajViWnFQWlljbTFDdkp5N1MxTkFOQzJlMk1LXzA5YkpJQjcwczRQelVDcWttS1ExV3F6OFVMM1lCdWtKYUZucVJ5VlAyVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffinanceoffootball] --- Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is… Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond,  Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky --- Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports [https://www.frequencymachine.com/undercoversports], a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com [http://frequencymahine.com] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Jozy Altidore: USMNT Can Win the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here — and the USMNT has already made a statement. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael is joined by Jozy Altidore, one of the top goal scorers in U.S. soccer history, to break down the pressure, opportunity and expectation around the U.S. men’s national team at a home World Cup. After a strong opening performance from the USA, Jozy explains why he believes this team has the talent to make a serious run, how home-field advantage can change a tournament, and why the real legacy of 2026 could be felt for the next 10 to 15 years. The conversation also looks at the business and human side of football. With the World Cup expanded to 48 teams and 104 matches, the Club World Cup growing, and the football calendar becoming more crowded than ever, Jozy discusses why player health has to remain central to the conversation. Jozy also reflects on representing the United States at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, preparing for life after football, investing across sports and business, and working as a World Cup analyst for Telemundo. From USMNT expectations to player burnout, this episode asks a simple question: how far can the United States really go at its own World Cup? --- For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram Asli - @brefootcontessa [https://www.instagram.com/brefootcontessa/] Michael - @michale.lore [https://www.instagram.com/michael.lore] And follow the show… On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2VKZ19YeWZ4YTRiQl9XOWRyQzNuRWM4WGl2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttV3g3SVpTVkR6LVNKZjBqaWxzeUFsYVhqdXJRVzBnYmZITVBYcEE3ck5VUFlBWWl1enhmeHFKOG1ZYnNfX1lQb2huYzdvZ1ZNaHVlVDR2Z1V6QmxVWXBBVDZCN0kxQVdUbFRTdklkcTk4M2ZLbmRoNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffinanceoffootballpod%2F] On Facebook - /financeoffootball [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlvUkNpYzZDMGVNdVd2a0cySzB5TnFFNnk3d3xBQ3Jtc0tsSkV6MnBpNWJwbVZ3Z2NiSmNUaVk2R2Fac004ZFlxX3dyTHNWTUxON1YwajViWnFQWlljbTFDdkp5N1MxTkFOQzJlMk1LXzA5YkpJQjcwczRQelVDcWttS1ExV3F6OFVMM1lCdWtKYUZucVJ5VlAyVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffinanceoffootball] --- Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is… Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky --- Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports [https://www.frequencymachine.com/undercoversports], a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com [http://frequencymahine.com] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Why Are 2026 World Cup Tickets So Expensive?

Why are 2026 World Cup tickets so expensive? With the biggest World Cup in history just days away, FIFA is facing growing criticism over ticket prices, dynamic pricing, seat transparency and the overall fan experience. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli break down FIFA’s controversial decision to introduce dynamic ticket pricing for the 2026 World Cup — the first time this model has ever been used at the tournament. They are joined by Jordy Leiser, co-founder and CEO of Jump, to explain how dynamic pricing actually works, why it has become common in American sports and live entertainment, and why FIFA’s version has created so much frustration among fans. The conversation looks at the biggest questions surrounding World Cup tickets right now: Why are prices so high? Will fans who waited get better deals? Why have some ticket categories and seat locations caused backlash? Is FIFA protecting itself from the secondary market? Could this model work again in Spain, Portugal and Morocco in 2030? Jordy also explains why transparency matters so much in ticketing — from hidden fees and unclear seat categories to the trust problem that comes when fans feel like prices are moving without warning. Then, in the weekly World Cup update, Michael and Asli discuss two more controversies around the tournament: FIFA’s changing water bottle policy for stadiums in the U.S. and Canada, and reports of World Cup officials, players and team staff facing immigration issues when entering the United States. From record FIFA revenue to fan frustration, this episode asks a simple question: has the 2026 World Cup become too expensive for the people it is supposed to bring together? --- For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram Asli - @brefootcontessa [https://www.instagram.com/brefootcontessa/] Michael - @michale.lore [https://www.instagram.com/michael.lore] And follow the show… On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2VKZ19YeWZ4YTRiQl9XOWRyQzNuRWM4WGl2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttV3g3SVpTVkR6LVNKZjBqaWxzeUFsYVhqdXJRVzBnYmZITVBYcEE3ck5VUFlBWWl1enhmeHFKOG1ZYnNfX1lQb2huYzdvZ1ZNaHVlVDR2Z1V6QmxVWXBBVDZCN0kxQVdUbFRTdklkcTk4M2ZLbmRoNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffinanceoffootballpod%2F] On Facebook - /financeoffootball [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlvUkNpYzZDMGVNdVd2a0cySzB5TnFFNnk3d3xBQ3Jtc0tsSkV6MnBpNWJwbVZ3Z2NiSmNUaVk2R2Fac004ZFlxX3dyTHNWTUxON1YwajViWnFQWlljbTFDdkp5N1MxTkFOQzJlMk1LXzA5YkpJQjcwczRQelVDcWttS1ExV3F6OFVMM1lCdWtKYUZucVJ5VlAyVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffinanceoffootball] --- Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is… Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond,  Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky --- Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports [https://www.frequencymachine.com/undercoversports], a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com [http://frequencymahine.com] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Home Depot’s Big Bet on Soccer

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is almost here — and some of the biggest brands in America are racing to be part of soccer’s biggest moment. In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli look at The Home Depot’s growing investment in the beautiful game, from Arthur Blank’s role in building Atlanta United to the company’s long-running partnerships with MLS, the Mexican national team and U.S. Soccer. They are joined by Allison Kolber, Vice President of Integrated Marketing at The Home Depot, to break down why soccer has become such an important part of the brand’s strategy. The conversation explores how Home Depot is using the World Cup to reach millennial homeowners, Gen-Z fans, Hispanic audiences and pro customers — and why the tournament creates a rare opportunity to connect soccer, community and home improvement. Allison also discusses Home Depot’s campaign with David Beckham, how “Beckham’s Backyard” will come to life during the tournament, and why physical fan activations across the U.S., Canada and Mexico matter so much for sponsors. Michael and Asli also ask what happens after the World Cup ends. Can brands keep fans engaged once the final is over? Or will soccer face the usual post-tournament dip? Finally, in the weekly World Cup update, they break down FIFA’s new push to punish time-wasting more seriously, including countdowns on goal kicks and throw-ins, and the viral story of New Zealand defender Tim Payne, who became an overnight sensation after an Argentine content creator helped turn him into the least-followed-player-turned-social-media-star of the tournament. From Arthur Blank’s soccer empire to Home Depot’s World Cup strategy, this episode asks a simple question: what does it really take to build soccer in America? --- For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram Asli - @brefootcontessa [https://www.instagram.com/brefootcontessa/] Michael - @michale.lore [https://www.instagram.com/michael.lore] And follow the show… On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2VKZ19YeWZ4YTRiQl9XOWRyQzNuRWM4WGl2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttV3g3SVpTVkR6LVNKZjBqaWxzeUFsYVhqdXJRVzBnYmZITVBYcEE3ck5VUFlBWWl1enhmeHFKOG1ZYnNfX1lQb2huYzdvZ1ZNaHVlVDR2Z1V6QmxVWXBBVDZCN0kxQVdUbFRTdklkcTk4M2ZLbmRoNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffinanceoffootballpod%2F] On Facebook - /financeoffootball [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlvUkNpYzZDMGVNdVd2a0cySzB5TnFFNnk3d3xBQ3Jtc0tsSkV6MnBpNWJwbVZ3Z2NiSmNUaVk2R2Fac004ZFlxX3dyTHNWTUxON1YwajViWnFQWlljbTFDdkp5N1MxTkFOQzJlMk1LXzA5YkpJQjcwczRQelVDcWttS1ExV3F6OFVMM1lCdWtKYUZucVJ5VlAyVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffinanceoffootball] --- Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is… Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond,  Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky --- Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports [https://www.frequencymachine.com/undercoversports], a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com [http://frequencymahine.com] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Nations & Numbers: Group L — The Financial, Cultural and Commercial Stakes of the 2026 World Cup

In this episode of Nations & Numbers, we break down Group L at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: England, Croatia, Ghana and Panama. England enters the tournament with one of the most valuable squads in world football, the power of the Premier League behind it, and the pressure of a nation still waiting for football to truly come home. With stars like Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice and Harry Kane, England has the talent, commercial power and global attention to make a major statement. Croatia arrives as one of international football’s most consistent tournament teams. After reaching the 2018 World Cup final and finishing third in 2022, Croatia can no longer be treated as a dark horse. For a small country, its ability to produce elite players and compete on the biggest stage has become one of football’s great modern success stories. Ghana brings history, heartbreak and huge African football pride. From the drama of the 2010 World Cup quarterfinal against Uruguay to generations of elite talent moving into Europe’s biggest leagues, Ghana remains one of Africa’s most important football nations. Now, a new generation has the chance to restore the Black Stars on the global stage. Panama returns to the World Cup for the second time, and the first since 2018. For a nation of around four million people, qualification is another major moment of visibility and pride. Panama may not have the global superstars of other teams in the group, but its identity, discipline and organization make it a difficult opponent. This is what makes Group L so compelling: England brings pressure and Premier League power, Croatia brings proven tournament pedigree, Ghana brings African football history and emotion, and Panama brings national pride and the chance to prove it belongs. If you care about the business of football and the real stakes behind the World Cup, this is for you. Subscribe for more Nations & Numbers as we break down every group at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. --- For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram Asli - @brefootcontessa [https://www.instagram.com/brefootcontessa/] Michael - @michale.lore [https://www.instagram.com/michael.lore] And follow the show… On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa2VKZ19YeWZ4YTRiQl9XOWRyQzNuRWM4WGl2Z3xBQ3Jtc0ttV3g3SVpTVkR6LVNKZjBqaWxzeUFsYVhqdXJRVzBnYmZITVBYcEE3ck5VUFlBWWl1enhmeHFKOG1ZYnNfX1lQb2huYzdvZ1ZNaHVlVDR2Z1V6QmxVWXBBVDZCN0kxQVdUbFRTdklkcTk4M2ZLbmRoNA&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Ffinanceoffootballpod%2F] On Facebook - /financeoffootball [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=channel_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbWlvUkNpYzZDMGVNdVd2a0cySzB5TnFFNnk3d3xBQ3Jtc0tsSkV6MnBpNWJwbVZ3Z2NiSmNUaVk2R2Fac004ZFlxX3dyTHNWTUxON1YwajViWnFQWlljbTFDdkp5N1MxTkFOQzJlMk1LXzA5YkpJQjcwczRQelVDcWttS1ExV3F6OFVMM1lCdWtKYUZucVJ5VlAyVQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ffinanceoffootball] --- Finance of Football - Nations and Numbers, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is… Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond,  Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky --- Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports [https://www.frequencymachine.com/undercoversports], a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com [http://frequencymahine.com] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].