IN THIS ISSUE

  • 📺 Introduction: The World Cup rules

  • 🗓️ Career Tips: Where to Build Your Career

  • ⚽️ Soccer Jobs: Hometown Soccer Holdings

  • 📰 Extra Extra: World Cup viewership

INTRODUCTION

Greetings, Pathwayers -

How are you enjoying the World Cup so far?

As someone who loves it more than just about anything on earth, I’m a little biased but… it’s been really fun hasn’t it?

  • Mexico off to a flying start at Azteca Mexico City Stadium

  • The U.S. absolutely dominating Paraguay

  • Scotland’s incredible fans descending on Boston

  • Curaçao’s one moment of magic

  • Cabo Verde (!) holding Spain scoreless

  • Haaland and Mbappé each scoring twice

  • Lionel Messi’s first World Cup hat trick!

  • And that’s just scratching the surface

And we’re only finishing up the first slate of games today. There’s so much more to come.

I’ll be in LA next week for a couple of days to take in U.S.-Türkiye at SoFi Stadium Los Angeles Stadium - and I’m planning to swing by and see U.S. Soccer’s activation space Soccer House, too. Can’t wait.

I hope you’re enjoying the games so far!

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

NEW SOCCER JOBS

We’ve pulled a few new soccer jobs across all leagues, HQs and soccer-specific companies. Good luck in your search!

We also wanted to highlight four specific jobs posted by Hometown Soccer Holdings - the KKR and MLS Partnership - which is in place to scale the commercial operations of MLS NEXT Pro. Check ‘em out.

⚽️ CAREER TIP: MLS OR USL, WHERE SHOULD YOU BUILD YOUR CAREER?

If you’re someone in high school or college - or if you’re someone who wants to make a career pivot into soccer, this one is for you.

It’s been fascinating to watch what has been happening in lower-division soccer over the last several years.

MLS recently brought on private equity investment for MLS NEXT Pro to accelerate expansion into smaller and mid-size markets across the U.S. and Canada.

Some of the same markets United Soccer League (USL) has been building in for 25+ years.

Two leagues. A lot of the same territory. Very different approaches.

And if you're building a career in soccer, the question isn't just interesting from a business standpoint.

It's directly relevant to where you choose to work.

WHY IT MATTERS

More professional clubs means more jobs.

More stadiums means more operations, marketing, ticketing, content, and coaching roles.

More leagues competing for markets means more opportunity across the board.

But not all opportunities are created equal.

Before you start applying, it's worth understanding what each path actually looks like.

WHAT EACH PATH OFFERS

The MLS / MLS NEXT Pro Path

MLS brings:

  • Deeper organizational resources

  • Stronger national brand recognition

  • Institutional backing and long-term infrastructure

  • A direct connection to MLS (Most NEXT Pro clubs are affiliated with MLS clubs)

What that means for your career:

  • More structured development programs

  • Bigger budgets to work with

  • More visibility, especially early on

  • Potentially more competition for open roles

The USL Path

USL brings:

  • 200+ clubs across a wide ecosystem

  • Local roots and established fan communities

  • Organizations that have (often) been building for longer

  • A culture where you often wear multiple hats

What that means for your career:

  • More hands-on experience earlier

  • Closer relationships with leadership

  • The chance to see and touch all parts of a business

  • Often, more room to grow quickly

WHAT TO ASK YOURSELF

There's no single right answer here.

It depends on what you're trying to do and who you're trying to become.

Ask yourself:

  • Do I want depth in one area or broad experience across many?

  • Do I want a large organization with structure or a smaller one with more ownership?

  • Am I optimizing for brand recognition on my résumé or for accelerated learning?

  • Where do I want to live and what markets excite me?

  • Is there a team in my backyard that makes the move easier?

The answers will point you in the right direction.

The lower division landscape in America has never had more momentum.

Both paths lead somewhere worth going.

👉 This week, identify one MLS NEXT Pro club and one USL club in a market that interests you. Research both, and see which one pulls you in.

The opportunity is there.

You just have to be clear on what you're looking for.

-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...

ALSO…

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SEE YOU SOON, SOCCER FRIENDS

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