The Soccer Business Podcast

Simon Evans
  • 4.9 (11)
  • Soccer

Welcome to the boardroom of North American soccer. The Soccer Business podcast offers unparalleled access to the industry's most influential figures. Host Simon Evans connects you with the key players - from MLS Commissioner Don Garber to legendary figures like Rio Ferdinand - to uncover the real stories behind the business of soccer. Each episode is packed with expert analysis and actionable insights for club owners, investors, and executives dedicated to driving the growth of the game.

  1. Sep 2

    From the Pitch to the Boardroom - Chelsee Washington - The Women's Soccer Business Podcast

    Women’s soccer is no longer just a game on the field - it’s an emerging asset class, and Chelsea Washington knows exactly why that matters. From becoming the first player drafted from her college into the NWSL to working in sports finance and investment today, she breaks down the business side of the women’s game that most fans never see.Simon Evans and Vnciane Ngomsi sit down with Chelsea Washington for a sharp, revealing conversation about the shift from athlete to investor, what she learned inside the locker rooms of the league’s golden era, and why the next phase of women’s soccer will be defined by patience, infrastructure, and smarter capital.   You’ll discover: * How Chelsea’s playing career unexpectedly prepared her for sports finance * What it was like sharing a locker room with legends like Alex Morgan, Marta, Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, and Sydney Leroux * Why the NWSL’s valuation surge is exciting, but still demands long-term thinking * How private equity, institutional money, and minority stakes are changing the sports investment landscape * Why the Canadian Northern Super League may have a structural advantage in building from the ground up Chelsea also explains how her time in Australia helped her reset, regain confidence, and finish her playing career on her own terms. She shares what separates sustainable growth from hype, why women’s teams need intentional ownership and dedicated resources, and where the biggest opportunities for young players and future investors may be emerging next.If you want the clearest possible view into where women’s soccer is headed - on the pitch, in the boardroom, and across the global investment market - this episode is essential listening.

    From the Pitch to the Boardroom - Chelsee Washington - The Women's Soccer Business Podcast

  2. Aug 28

    Why British Clubs Are Buying Up MLS Players - Tom Bogert

    Zavier Gozo from Salt Lake to Premier League Crystal Palace, Sebastian Berhalter and Max Arfsten to Middlesbrough, even two USL strikers moving to Scotland. Why are British and European clubs suddenly buying players from MLS and USL? And can MLS and USL grow by being 'selling leagues'? Tom Bogert of The Athletic, America's number one journalist on soccer's transfer market, joins The Soccer Business to take a look at what is going on?

  3. Aug 21

    The NWSL targets 'Soccer Dads' & 'Vibe Shifters' - Jennifer Levine

    Jennifer Levine, Vice President of Communications and Public Relations with the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) joins the pod to talk about the growth of the league, their core and target audiences, how the league is story telling and whether there is competition with other women's sports league such as the WNBA. This is the first of our new series 'The Women's Soccer Business Podcast'.

  4. Aug 17

    Transfer Market Recruitment and the role of AI. With Dean Bracha.

    Clubs are paying for mountains of player data — and using as little as 15% of it. Dean Bracha, founder of Marquee, joins the launch episode of The Stack to explain how his Tel Aviv-based platform is using AI to close that gap, and why he thinks most recruitment departments are still making multi-million-pound decisions on a fraction of the information available to them. Simon Evans and André Da Costa dig into how Marquee's 12 proprietary AI models work as a "decision intelligence layer" sitting on top of a club's existing data stack — automating roughly 70-75% of the recruitment analysis process while leaving the final call, the "eye test," and the agent relationships to humans. They cover real scenarios (what happens if Real Madrid come for Declan Rice on transfer deadline?), the industry's data-opacity problem, why AI still has a trust issue inside football clubs, and where the human scout still beats the model. This is the first episode of The Stack — The Soccer Business's new series on the tools and systems running modern clubs, covering technology from both a performance and a commercial angle.

  5. Aug 14

    The Deal Room: Bezos & Liverpool Deal? Peter Moore former LFC CEO

    In the first of our new series on investment topics 'The Deal Room' we take a look at reports that Amazon owner Jeff Bezos is part of a consortium looking to acquire a sizable chunk of Liverpool FC. With the club's valuation reported to be somewhere between $6 billion and $8 billion, what would this investment mean for the club? Does Fenway Sports Group have an exit strategy and what kind of presence would Bezos be at Anfield? Former Liverpool CEO Peter Moore returns to the pod to give his view on the situation.

  6. Aug 7

    MLS's Mexican Future - League Cup's cross border debut with Tom Mayo

    MLS is banking on it's partnership with Liga MX in the Leagues Cup, which got underway this week, to deliver growth across all areas of the business. On Wednesday the competition held its first game on Mexican soil with a packed crowd in Toluca witnessing the clash with the Seattle Sounders. Tom Mayo, Executive Director of Leagues Cup, joined the pod to outline MLS's thinking about the tournament and reveal how the competition will fit into the new-look MLS calendar. Plus we touch upon the unveiling of Larry Berg as new commissioner of MLS in New York earlier this week with the thoughts of Don Garber, Jimmy Haslem and Berg himself and Simon looks at how Berg handled the media for the first time.

    MLS's Mexican Future - League Cup's cross border debut with Tom Mayo

  7. Aug 4

    New MLS Commissioner Larry Berg - What Awaits?

    Larry Berg is the new MLS Commissioner having been chosen to replace Don Garber in the top seat at the league. But what to expect from the former private equity executive and LAFC co-owner? What will be at the top of his agenda. Brian Anderson from Sheppard Mullin, an analyst of American soccer business, joins the pod to talk to Andre and Simon about the big new appointment.

  8. Jul 22

    World Cup: Winners and Losers

    Simon Evans is joined by Andre Da Costa and Sports Business Journal's Alex Silverman for a wrap-up review of the World Cup — breaking down the tournament's biggest business winners and losers. From Erling Haaland to Cristiano Ronaldo - beer sales to hydration break revenue - it's all covered as the pod looks back on a memorable five weeks.

See All (64)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Welcome to the boardroom of North American soccer. The Soccer Business podcast offers unparalleled access to the industry's most influential figures. Host Simon Evans connects you with the key players - from MLS Commissioner Don Garber to legendary figures like Rio Ferdinand - to uncover the real stories behind the business of soccer. Each episode is packed with expert analysis and actionable insights for club owners, investors, and executives dedicated to driving the growth of the game.

Information

  • Creator
    Simon Evans
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Soccer Business Podcast