The One Soccer Nation Podcast

Football governance sounds dry until you realize it decides whether your club survives. In this episode, Kareem Rae sits down with Mark O'Neill, a PhD researcher at the University of Westminster studying whether football's ownership regulations actually protect the people who matter most: the fans. Mark breaks down the cases that exposed the cracks in the system, including Dai Yongge's...

Edgewater Castle FC founder Andrew Swanson shares his remarkable journey from a soccer fan inspired by Champions League to a community-driven club climbing the ranks of U.S. professional soccer. In this in-depth conversation, explore how a grassroots approach, focused on partnerships with local schools and civic organizations, creates a sustainable model for ambitious clubs navigating the evolving...

Mark Dillon, Chief Executive Officer of Talentprojekt, operates at the intersection of player development, global talent mobility, and long-term asset creation within professional soccer. With decades of experience working across European club systems, his perspective provides a structural view into why development environments, not just talent, determine outcomes. This conversation examines the s...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Wolfgang W. Muller, Founder and Acting CEO of F2O Sports, to unpack a fundamental question facing global football: Is the traditional club ownership model broken? Wolfgang shares a candid perspective on why the current football business model is outdated, how the relationship between clubs and fans is under real strai...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Rod Underwood, a seasoned leader in global soccer with experience spanning the Portland Timbers, Sacramento Republic, Montego Bay United, and Chattanooga FC. With decades of experience as a head coach, technical director, and academy architect, Rod shares a deep, practical perspective on what it truly takes to build s...

A new class of soccer ownership is emerging and Jozy Altidore is at the center of it. In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, Kareem Rae sits down with the former U.S. Men’s National Team star turned investor, operator, and Chief Strategy Officer at Sogility to break down how modern soccer assets are being built and scaled. This conversation goes beyond the typical athlete transition sto...

Inside the realities of modern football ownership, very few voices operate across both the U.S. and UK ecosystems with true, first-hand experience. In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, Kareem Rae sits down with Christopher Corey, Owner & President of Walton & Hersham FC, to break down what actually works in football, what is fundamentally broken in the United States, and what...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae speaks with Thomas Sowinski, President & Chief Executive Officer of United Soccer Camps, about the structural challenges shaping youth soccer development in the United States. Drawing on experience across governance, grassroots leadership, and player development, Thomas shares his perspective on how the current system influences...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae speaks with Wendy Damonte, Co Founder and CEO of Reno Pro Soccer, about the structural decisions involved in launching a professional soccer club and stadium anchored mixed use development in Reno, Nevada. Damonte is leading one of the most ambitious emerging projects in the USL ecosystem. The initiative centers on a mixed use distr...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Jason Tedrow, President & CEO of InProduction, the largest venue transformation and event services company in North America.   Jason pulls back the curtain on how temporary and modular stadium infrastructure is reshaping professional soccer, college athletics, and major global events. From USL partnerships and fas...

In global football, a single player developed correctly can generate revenue for 10 to 20 years. In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, Kareem Rae sits down with Santiago Cadavid Alzate, Head of Legal at Envigado Fútbol Club, one of the most respected youth development institutions in world football. Envigado, known as Cantera de Héroes, has produced global talents including James Rodrí...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Teddy Wagnac, CEO & Founder of SoccerPath, and Wadi Gaitan, Co-Founder and Communication Strategist, for a forward-looking conversation at the intersection of technology, youth development, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As North America prepares to host the world’s biggest sporting event, Teddy and Wadi break down...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae speaks with former MLS professional Kelyn Rowe about the realities of playing at the highest level and the difficult transition that follows. Kelyn shares the sacrifices, pressure, and mental demands of a professional career, along with the identity shift many players face after retirement. Now a Seattle Sounders FC broadcaster and...

What does the 2026 FIFA World Cup mean for small nations and how can football truly change a country? In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Marlon Glean, President of the Grenada Football Association and former FIFA executive, to explore how football can unite nations, create opportunity, and build long-term legacy, especially in the Caribbean. Marlon sha...

From being told he’d never make it, to signing his first pro contract at 19, Heath Martin has built his career on resilience, discipline, and a growth mindset. Today, Heath is not only a professional soccer player, but also the founder of NSP Soccer, a global training brand with over 500K followers and 10M monthly views. In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae and co-host...

How does a Google veteran and venture capitalist approach investing in professional soccer? In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Kevin Willer - tech leader, investor, and owner with stakes in clubs across the USL, NWSL, England’s EFL, and Canada’s Northern Super League. Kevin reveals how he built his soccer investment thesis, why women’s soccer is one of...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Nicholas Edwards, former professional athlete and Co-Founder of Champion Venture Partners (CVP), a sports investment firm changing the way athletes and fans engage with ownership. Nicholas shares his journey from athlete to entrepreneur to investor, and how CVP is opening the doors of sports ownership to both accredit...

How are real estate, technology, and global events reshaping soccer in the U.S.? In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Brett McCormick of Sports Business Journal to explore the evolving business of soccer. They discuss the rise of mixed-use developments around stadiums, the expected impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and how venue utilization drives long-...

What does it take to succeed in soccer journalism while covering the rise of MLS, USL, and U.S. soccer? In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, Kareem Rae speaks with veteran journalist Simon Evans, who has been covering the sport since the early 1990s. Simon shares how technology and AI are reshaping media, why networking is essential for journalists, and how global stars like Messi hav...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation (OSN) Podcast, host Kareem Rae sit down with Tino Villarreal, Jr., City Commissioner At-Large "A" of City of Brownsville, Texas, to explore how this dynamic border city is transforming into a global hub for space travel, innovation, and professional sports. Brownsville is not only witnessing monthly rocket launches and attracting major tech billio...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, Kareem Rae sits down with entrepreneur and developer Greg Scott for a deep dive into the future of professional soccer in Riverside, California. Greg shares the story behind his entrepreneurial beginnings, how he identifies opportunities worth building, and why soccer has become a core part of his vision for community development. The conversation...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, Kareem Rae sits down with Susie Cirilli a employment law specialist, certified WNBA and PWHL agent, and a leading advocate for transgender women athletes for a candid, insight-rich discussion on how law, identity, and policy are reshaping modern sport. Together, they break down why the future of athletics hinges on legal clarity, how gender-identit...

Brazil’s football is changing fast—from SAF reforms to multi-club ownership. In this episode, host Kareem Rae sits down with Danilo Caixeiro (Eagle Football | Matix Capital) to unpack the investment strategy behind Botafogo’s turnaround, how new laws reshaped Brazilian football, and what it really takes to build investor relations in a passionate, high-pressure market. You’ll learn: How 6 years in...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Chris Martinovic to discuss what it truly takes to build a successful professional soccer club from the ground up. From securing community support to ensuring the right stadium size, Chris shares valuable insights on how fan engagement directly drives ticket sales, revenue, and long-term investment success.   Key High...

How do you launch professional soccer clubs from the ground up? In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Ryan Harnetiaux, founder of Aequus Sports LLC, to share the inside story of building Spokane Velocity (USL League One / USL 1) and Spokane Zephyr FC (USL Super League / USL S) in Spokane, Washington. Ryan opens up about the unique challenge of launching b...