Because Football

Anne Song is the Captain of Gritty FC, a grassroots adult soccer team in the Philadelphia area. In this episode of the Icarus Cup Podcast Series in collaboration with Because Football Media, Anne tells us about how the team helped her make friends and settle in a new city after moving from Cleveland, as well as the origin of the team's name and how it mirrors their collective personality. She...

If your youth club could make more money from sponsorships, there is a good chance that money could be used to provide more access for players who can't normally afford youth soccer. But how do you develop that revenue? Well, you need a gameplan. In Episode 64 of the Because Football Podcast, we interview Madrid-based American Ben Gunduz. As a player and administrator for his local neighborhoo...

Evan Carabelli is the Captain and Founder of Spicy Meatballs FC, a men's league team that has been a key member of the Icarus Cup since it began 5 years ago. In this episode of the Icarus Cup Podcast Series in collaboration with Because Football Media, Evan discusses the story behind one of the tournament's most lovable team names, their tactical strategy. And, most importantly, we chat about why...

Women's football is NOT the same as men's football...and that's not a problem. It's an opportunity. In Episode 62 of the Because Football Podcast, we’re joined by Amanda Moura Pietrzak, COO of Legia Ladies in Warsaw, Poland. Amanda has had a career as a professional footballer in Brazil and Poland, as well as a distinguished university career in the United States. She began playing...

Daniel Diaz is the Founder of Fresh Coast FC, an NYC-based sport and social club that has been knocking around the pitches of the Big Apple since 2013. In this episode of the Icarus Cup Podcast Series in collaboration with Because Football Media, Daniel talks about how the club is more than just a bunch of guys that play soccer together on Thursdays and Sundays, why local eateries and pubs are a c...

American Soccer is unique in that the growth of the game has not relied solely on the obsessive soccer purist. In large part, the sport has risen due to fans drawn to community, fun, and experiences, rather than club tradition or passion passed down from previous generations. In Episode 61 of the Because Football Podcast, we’re joined by Scott Westcoat, a man who has contributed to the growth of s...

In Episode 60 of the Because Football Podcast, we’re joined by Ricardo Garza, a college coach, semi-pro club owner, and soccer training program operator in St. Louis. We talk about how coaching Junior College "JuCo" allows him to focus on developing individuals to prepare them for the next level, why he founded AC Saint Louis as a pre-professional club, and what his newest venture of Mol...

Women+ Soccer Detroit is on a mission to provide safe, community-based soccer for she’s and they’s of all skill levels. Founded in the spring of 2023, the group met together a few times a week to play pickup soccer for fun, connection, and a workout. But when they heard about Icarus Cup Philly, they knew it was time to test their inclusive footy crew with some competition. In this episode of the I...

Local, community level soccer has been present in the United States for over 100 years. Sometimes comfortably, often struggling, and rarely thriving, there have been a number of factors - economic, social, and organizational - that have brought the US lower league soccer scene to where it is today. In Episode 59 of the Because Football Podcast, we’re joined by Art Auchenbach, President of Reading...

Jaden Stevenson is a Kit Designer for Icarus FC, a design-focused football/soccer kit brand that creates highly custom and bespoke kits, jerseys and apparel for more than 2000 clubs in 25 countries, from the Ghana Premier League to your local rec league. In this episode of the Icarus Cup Podcast Series in collaboration with Because Football Media , Jaden talks about developing a love for soccer in...

The growth of MLS over the past 25 years is undeniable, but you would be wrong if you think it's only been because of a higher number of soccer fans in the US. That's because a significant driver of revenue - group ticket sales - depends not on a critical mass of diehard footy fans, but on engaging non-traditional groups in the matchday experience. In Episode 58 of the Because Football Podcast, we...

What if a simple deck of cards could bring soccer fans together like never before? In Episode 50 of the Because Football Podcast,, we’re joined by Roshan Patel , founder of GIVE&GO Games , a fast-paced, fun, accessible soccer party card game designed to spark creativity, connection, and playful banter—whether you're a die-hard supporter or just getting into the game. Roshan shares his journey...

Charlie Shea is the Tournament Director for CASA Soccer, a non-profit organization run for players, by players, that delivers  high-quality, affordable soccer for all.   In this episode of the Icarus Cup Podcast Series in collaboration with Because Football Media, Charlie talks about how being a lazy wrestler made him a soccer nut, the challenges and joys of organizing quality, fun footy events, a...

Are we in a golden era of football content? While major networks maintain a competitive advantage due to traditional distribution channels and deep pockets, ease of access has facilitated the rise of soccer content creators across various platforms. But, here’s the thing: we haven’t seen a soccer-specific platform where fans of the beautiful game can go to learn, debate, and create. Through GOLZ T...

Today, one of soccer’s most controversial trends is the rise of “MCO” or multi-club ownership model, in which investment groups raise and invest capital in a web of international clubs. While this model seems to suit the ownership groups well, this phenomenon has raised concerns among fans about maintaining their club’s sovereignty and autonomy, rather than being a pawn in a global network of club...

Success in football - for clubs, players, and agents - is highly dependent on the quality of your network. But is it possible for the football transfer market to be more and better connected? On Episode 55 of the Because Football Podcast, our guest Alejandro Martinez speaks about his mission to create the world’s most prominent football social network - like LinkedIn for the football industry - by...

Using sport for good might sound hollow and cliche. But for Dan Dodge, our guest on Episode 54 of the Because Football Podcast, it’s his mission. As Founder of Sports 4 Change, he collaborates with a wide variety of funders to utilize sports, and football / soccer in particular, to inspire people to live healthier, happier, more successful lives. An expert in project planning and implementation, p...

As football / soccer fans, our first dream was to become a professional player. To show our talents on the pitch, write our name in the history books, win trophies. But for Kyle Shestack, our guest on Episode 53 of the Because Football, his earliest dream was to own the team that the rest of us would be vying to play for. And after years working in the insurance industry, Kyle’s dream came true, a...

The beauty of football is sharing moments of joy, of desperation, of disappointment with your friends. The beauty of the English football pyramid is that you can get a team of friends together and, technically, rise all the way up 16 ranks to the Premier League. Likely? Probably not. Seductive? Absolutely. As you will learn on Episode 52 of the Because Football Podcast, our guest TJ Savage, co-fou...

Football brings out so many parts of us - the competitive side, the passionate side, the creative, the physical, and the social side. That's one reason we love it so much. Our guest for Episode 51 of the Because Football Podcast, Henry Knight, currently coaches in both competitive and community football roles. As Assistant Coach for the Port Vale FC Women’s First Team, he is part of a dedicated, p...

In Episode 49 of the Because Football Podcast, we welcome Danny Navarro, a passionate football traveler and content creator known for helping fans navigate the world of soccer travel. Danny, aka @TravelFutbolFan, has built a strong community on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, providing insights on budgeting, planning, and making the most of major football events. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup in th...

In today’s crowded sports landscape, football clubs can no longer rely on tradition alone to attract and retain fans. In this episode of the Because Football Podcast, we explore why relevance is everything in modern football and how clubs must authentically earn their place in the hearts and minds of supporters. From local grassroots teams to global powerhouses, every club is competing for attenti...

In Episode 47 of the Because Football Podcast, we invite Sports Management professor and research Dr. Gerard Akindes to give his insight about football in Africa. He gives his opinion on why AFCON is “not African Football”, how most domestic African leagues have lost their cultural relevance and quality, and who started the trend of West African players migrating to Southeast Asia to play professi...

On Episode 46 of the Because Football Podcast, our guest Shane Rineer talks about his work of developing youth soccer players and what he is doing to improve the game on a structural level. With over 14 years of coaching experience at elite college programs, including Haverford College, Colgate University, and Amherst College, he has a proven track record of success in player development, recruitm...

Ever since his early days playing rec soccer in South Jersey, to his semester abroad in London watching Dennis Bergkamp bossing the pitch at Arsenal's Highbury stadium, Matt Ralph has loved the game of soccer. So it was only natural this his journalism career, initially covering a range of topics from high school sports, to politics, to crime, eventually transformed into covering the game he l...