IN THIS ISSUE

INTRODUCTION

Hello, Pathwayers -

What a week in soccer it’s been already.

Infantino’s no good, very bad plan has been scrapped.

MLS has a new commissioner.

Evander is scoring golazo after golazo.

Mauricio Pochettino is back.

Sam Kerr is definitely back.

Vermont Green FC went back-to-back!

All that in just the last few days. It’s the great thing about soccer, isn’t it? It never really ends. There’s always a game to watch or a story to follow.

If you’re like me, it’s one of the reasons you love it.

I do hope you’ve found your soccer groove again post-World Cup. 🙂

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

PS: We’ve recently launched our newsletter storefront - you can now sponsor the newsletter, post a featured job, or ensure a job listing in our weekly rundown.

NEW SOCCER JOBS

Check out this week’s list of new soccer jobs. If you decide to throw your hat in the ring, good luck.

Yes, the World Cup has brought a lot of additional attention to soccer in America.

More fans, brands, investment - and more people watching the sport closely for the first time.

The soccer industry is getting bigger, more sophisticated, and more competitive.

The people who stand out over the next five years won't just be the ones who love the game.

They'll be the ones who can help organizations grow it.

I’m of the opinion that the growth of AI will actually make live events and experience that much more valuable.

But, you can’t ignore that AI is changing how teams, leagues, agencies, and brands work.

It's helping people:

You don't need to become an AI expert, but you do need to understand how to use it responsibly and effectively.

And, importantly, you need to learn how to use it while still adding your unique human touch - true ingenuity, creativity, and innovation will always come from humans.

Do not become overly reliant on AI - you have to continue to think for yourself.

But, I do believe that the people who can use AI to make their work faster and more efficient will have a real advantage.

Soccer organizations have more data than ever.

The question becomes whether someone can turn that data into useful intel to inform decision making.

If you can learn how to interpret the numbers, spot patterns, and explain what the data means to someone who isn't a data person, you’ll be a step ahead.

That skill will travel with you across almost every department in professional soccer.

Every club, league, player, and brand is trying to earn attention.

That means the ability to tell a story clearly is more valuable than ever.

Can you write?

Can you shoot and edit video?

Can you turn a moment from a match, a fan experience, or a community event into something people want to share?

You don't have to be able to do all of it. Or, really, any of it.

But if you can learn to understand what resonates, what grabs attention, what tugs at the heart strings - what moves people! - you’ll be able to apply that skill at every stop.

The World Cup was a great reminder that soccer is about more than what happens on the field.

It’s shared traditions.

It's the fans and supporters.

It’s relationships built at watch parties.

It’s pride in the local team, no matter the level.

It’s connections made at youth clubs and academies.

The organizations that grow fastest over the next few years will be the ones that turn casual interest into real belonging.

That takes people who know how to listen, bring people together, and make fans feel like they're part of something.

If you’re someone who excels at building relationships, at making connections - lean into it.

I believe strongly those types of people will shape the future of sport.

Connection and belonging will matter more in the next 10 years than at any point in recent memory.

If you can build community, you can build value.

Soccer is growing because more people see the business opportunity.

More brands want to reach fans, more clubs need revenue, and more organizations are figuring out how to turn attention into something sustainable.

You don't need to work in partnerships or sales to think commercially.

Ask yourself:

The people who understand both the game and the business will be incredibly valuable.

The jobs are going to evolve.

So should your skillset.

👉 Pick one of these five areas and spend the next 30 days getting better at it.

Take a course.

Build a small side project.

Follow people doing similar work.

Ask someone in the industry how they use the skill in their role.

The World Cup created new momentum. The new skills you build will determine how you can take advantage of it.

Go get ‘em!

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

ICYMI: MUST-READ ARTICLES

📰 Extra! Extra! Here are a few quick reads to stay up to date with the latest soccer happenings...

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SEE YOU SOON, SOCCER FRIENDS