IN THIS ISSUE
🤝 Introduction: Smashing records
‼️ Do This Now: How to get started in soccer
⚽️ Soccer Jobs: 15+ new jobs
📰 Extra Extra: A change to the offside rule?
INTRODUCTION
Hello again, Pathwayers!
63,004! 🤯
The biggest crowd in NWSL history turned out this past Saturday for Denver Summit FC’s first-ever home match.
It absolutely smashed the previous record of 40,091 set by Bay FC just eight months ago. If you haven’t been paying attention to the NWSL - and women’s soccer in general - it’s time to take notice.
The players:
Nearly every metric in women’s soccer is up - attendance, TV viewership, fan engagement, sponsorship revenue. It’s a beautiful thing to see.
Our recommendation? If you have a women’s soccer team anywhere near you, get out to a game and see it for yourself.
-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO
Our friends at Name & Number - your favorite soccer-specific marketing and creative agency - recently released a new report on women’s soccer.
The comprehensive deck includes:
5-year roadmap
U.S. soccer pyramid
Fan insights + data
And, ultimately, what it means for brands:
How they can enter the sport
What's working and not working
What fans want to see from brands
💡 CAREER TIP: HOW TO GET STARTED IN SOCCER
There’s something most people don’t realize about working in soccer:
There’s a language to it.
And if you don’t speak it… it shows.
It shows in:
The words you use
The ideas you pitch
The way you approach the game, the fans, and the culture
Soccer fans (and people inside the industry) can spot it instantly.
Because soccer isn’t just another sport.
It’s global. It’s cultural. It’s nuanced.
And if you try to apply a traditional North American sports mindset to it…
…it usually misses.
YOU CAN’T FAKE FLUENCY
The brands and organizations that win in soccer all have one thing in common:
They bring in people who actually understand the game.
Not just at a surface level, but culturally.
That means:
Understanding different leagues and fanbases
Knowing how supporters think and engage
Recognizing what feels authentic vs what feels forced
For example:
You wouldn’t build a campaign around Liga MX without someone who understands that audience.
You wouldn’t operate in the women’s game without someone who’s lived and studied that space.
Because if you don’t…
You get it wrong.
Every time.
SO HOW DO YOU LEARN THE LANGUAGE?
This is where most people get stuck.
They think:
“I need connections.”
But that’s not the starting point.
The real question is: how useful are you?
Here are some tips to get you started on the right path:
1. Build Proof of Work
Before anyone gives you a shot, you need to show you belong.
That means:
Internships (even with smaller or lesser-known clubs)
Side projects (content, analysis, creative work, etc.)
Volunteering or contributing wherever you can
The goal is reps.
2. Show Initiative
Don’t wait for permission.
The people who break in are the ones who:
Raise their hand
Take on extra work
Create opportunities instead of waiting for them
Soccer rewards people who lean in.
3. Learn by Doing (Not Just Watching)
Watching games isn’t enough.
To really learn the language, you need to:
Create content around the sport
Analyze trends, teams, and business decisions
Engage with others in the industry
That’s how you move from fan → participant.
4. Be Willing to Start at the Bottom
Most careers in soccer aren’t glamorous at the beginning.
They start:
In small roles
With long hours
Doing work that doesn’t always get noticed
But that’s where fluency is built.
If you want to work in soccer, focus less on “getting in”… and more on becoming someone who belongs.
That means:
Building real experience
Showing initiative
Learning the language
Staying adaptable when things change
Because in this industry, connections might open a door.
But fluency, usefulness, and consistency are what keep you in the room.
-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO
NEW SOCCER JOBS
Data Scientist - U.S. Soccer
Director, International - MLS
Graphic Designer - CF Montréal
Office Receptionist - U.S. Soccer
Video Analyst, Academy - LAFC
Girls Director, ECNL-RL - Rush Soccer
Team Administrator, Academy - Charlotte FC
Director, Growth Marketing - NJ/NY Gotham FC
Senior Director, Event Services - Columbus Crew
Senior Graphic Designer - Sacramento Republic FC
Assistant Coach, Men’s Soccer - Saint Francis University
Director of Operations, Women’s Soccer - East Carolina University
Vice President of Corporate Sponsorship - Santa Barbara Sky FC
ICYMI: MUST-READ ARTICLES
📰 Extra! Extra! Here are a few quick reads to stay up to date with the latest soccer happenings...
FIFA to Trial "Daylight" Offside Rule in the CPL - The Canadian Premier League will be the testing ground for FIFA's new "daylight" offside interpretation — championed by Arsène Wenger — starting in the 2026 CPL season. (via The Athletic)
MLS Announces Back-of-Jersey Ad Inventory - MLS will allow clubs to sell advertising space on the lower backs of jerseys starting after the 2026 All-Star Break — the fourth commercial position on MLS kits. (via Sportico)
Catarina Macario Signs Record $8M Deal with San Diego Wave - USWNT star Catarina Macario signed a deal with the San Diego Wave reportedly worth nearly $8 million in fully guaranteed money over five seasons through 2030 — surpassing Trinity Rodman's deal as the largest contract in NWSL history. (via ESPN)
Denver Summit FC Shatter All-time NWSL Attendance Record - More on expansion side Summit FC’s record-breaking day in Denver. The only thing the game needed was a goal. (CBS Sports)
ALSO…
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FOLLOW ALONG
SEE YOU SOON, SOCCER FRIENDS
