IN THIS ISSUE

INTRODUCTION

Hello, Pathwayers!     

It’s finally here! The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off tomorrow in Mexico and I couldn’t be more excited for the actual games to get rolling.

There is so much volume right now - content, campaigns, PR stunts, good headlines, bad headlines, player news, team news, stadium news! - it’s impossible to keep track of all of it (though I’m having fun on Twitter/X highlighting some of my favorite things).

My hope for all of you is you can find the time to enjoy following the team you’re rooting for and just enjoy the on-field spectacle that happens only once every four years.

Here’s to making new memories around the game we love with family and friends.

Enjoy!

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

PS: If you’re looking for a good World Cup resource to dig in, I think The Guardian’s World Cup Guide is one of the most comprehensive and useful.

NEW SOCCER JOBS

Check out all new job listings and share with a friend!

U.S. Soccer leads the way with multiple new jobs postings. Also, if you have not yet seen it, the new National Training Center is pretty impressive.

A few other gigs for you to consider:

KKR recently made a strategic investment in MLS NEXT Pro.

If you're not familiar, KKR is a global investment firm that has committed nearly $9 billion to sports since 2010. That’s a lot.

They don't write checks for things that aren't scalable.

The announcement came with a new entity, Hometown Soccer Holdings, which has been designed to build stadiums, create local club brands, and expand professional soccer into smaller markets across the U.S. and Canada.

When institutional capital starts flowing into developmental soccer infrastructure, the timeline stretches decades.

Institutional money follows opportunity.

And opportunity creates jobs.

Stadiums need operations teams.

New clubs need front offices.

Growing leagues need marketing, partnerships, ticketing, analytics, coaching, and content.

The infrastructure for the next era of American soccer is being built right now.

The question is: where are you when it opens?

Most people only track the top of the pyramid: MLS, NWSL, and the biggest clubs.

Start paying attention further down.

MLS NEXT Pro. USL. New club announcements. Stadium deals. League expansions.

That's where a lot of the near-term hiring will happen.

KKR's thesis is simple: get in before the value is obvious to everyone.

The same logic applies to your career.

The people who build relationships with emerging clubs and organizations now, before they're household names, will have a massive head start when those organizations grow.

Be early.

Hometown Soccer Holdings is specifically focused on smaller and mid-size markets.

That means professional soccer is coming to cities and regions that don't have it yet.

Don't limit your job search to the markets you already know.

The next great opportunity might be in a city you haven't considered.

And there are some amazing and beautiful smaller cities across our country.

Investors like KKR don't just care about wins and losses.

They care about:

The candidates who can speak to both the sport and the business will be the most valuable in this next era.

Start developing that fluency now.

The smart money sees what's coming in American soccer.

You should, too.

👉 This week, research one emerging club or market that's on the rise, and think about how your skills could fit into what they're building.

The next decade of soccer in America is going to be remarkable.

Get yourself in position to be part of it.

-Kyle Sheldon, Co-Founder & CEO

ICYMI: MUST-READ ARTICLES

📰 The latest soccer headlines that will keep you connected and plugged in:

ALSO…

FOLLOW ALONG

SEE YOU SOON, SOCCER FRIENDS