The One Soccer Nation Podcast

In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Ryan Bailey – Chief Operating Officer (Americas) at Red Knot and co-host of The Total Soccer Show on The Athletic – to discuss the rapid evolution of soccer in the United States, the business of storytelling in the game, and the unprecedented opportunities ahead as we approach the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With over 15 years in US soccer media, Ryan shares...

American investor-operator Jordan Gardner breaks down the real mechanics of buying and running European football clubs—what to diligence before you wire a euro, how to build a winning dressing-room culture, where undervalued leagues still exist, and why many multi-club ownership (MCO) plays fail in execution.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Deal selection & diligence: stadium control/leases, geography, roster...

In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Justin Papadakis, Deputy CEO and Chief Real Estate Officer at the United Soccer League (USL), to discuss the league’s rapid growth and how it’s shaping the future of soccer in the United States.

Justin shares how USL is building first-class stadiums, training centers, and community-focused clubs that will change the landscape of American soccer. With m...

In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Dan Rutstein, President of Business Operations at Orange County SC (OCSC), to unpack how a United Soccer League (USL) club is challenging the status quo—and building a bold new vision for American soccer.

From leading the U.S. in player transfers to Europe to pioneering promotion and relegation, OCSC is creating a blueprint for what professi...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Brandon Dowling, Principal at Johnson Consulting, a boutique advisory firm specializing in sports, entertainment, and mixed-use real estate development. With over 17 years of experience and deep involvement in stadium projects across the U.S., Brandon shares unmatched insights into what it takes to bring professional soccer venues to life.

From wo...

In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae speaks with Bassam Naim, Director at ANB Futbol Academy, to discuss the remarkable 16-year journey of the ANB International ID Camp and its impact on Canadian soccer.Since 2006, ANB has been a bridge for youth players in Canada to gain international exposure, especially in Europe. Bassam shares how the camp was built to provide continuity, development, and global sco...

In this exclusive episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with renowned international sports lawyer Enric Ripoll to explore the legal engine driving the world’s most popular game.

With over 20 years of experience spanning Spain, Europe, and now the U.S., Enric shares his personal journey from the mountains of Spain to Miami’s legal scene, his role in the historic €222M Neymar-PSG de...

In this high-impact episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae connects with Jaime Domínguez, Director of Content and Communications at World Football Summit (WFS) — one of the premier global platforms for football business networking and thought leadership.

Jaime shares his inspiring journey from cosmetics marketing to global football, detailing how a passion for the beautiful game led him to shapi...

Welcome back to The One Soccer Nation Podcast, sponsored by ConFut USA!

In this powerful episode, host Kareem Rae sits down with Nathan Krum, Vice President of Marketing and Sales at Miami FC (USL Championship), to explore the future of soccer in the U.S. and the club’s bold $272 million mixed-use development project in Homestead, Florida.

Nathan shares:

• His 20+ year journey in sports, from internships to NASCAR ...

In this episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Rodrigo Grillo, a rising sports legal professional from Brazil, to explore how passion, persistence, and purpose led him from Brazil, São Paulo to the University of Miami School of Law.

Rodrigo shares his journey of transitioning from estate planning in Brazil to pursuing his dream of working in global sports law.

He discusses why Miami is uniquel...

In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Antonio Paz, Vice President of Business Development at Absolute Sport, a global soccer travel company specializing in unforgettable fan experiences across the world's biggest football events.

Antonio shares:

• His incredible journey attending 10 consecutive FIFA World Cups
• From Maradona’s iconic 1986 win to Messi’s historic 2022 triump...

In this powerful episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, co-host Channing Chasten sits down with longtime friend and former teammate Ryan Flood, a professional footballer currently with Phoenix Rising FC.

Ryan opens up about his unique journey—bypassing college to chase a professional career, developing his craft across continents in Brazil, Japan, Ireland, and the USL Championship, and overcoming the emotional and mental ch...

In this powerful episode of The One Soccer Nation Podcast, hosted by Kareem Rae and sponsored by Confut, we sit down with Felipe Alvarez — Co-Founder and President of Futbol Sin Barreras -- to hear how he's transforming lives through soccer in Colombia.

Felipe's shares how a legacy started by his grandfather in an underserved Colombian community has evolved into an international foundation that has already impacted over 300 youth pl...

In this episode of the One Soccer Nation Podcast, host Kareem Rae sits down with Spencer Collum, a key executive at Fort Lauderdale United FC, to talk about how this rising club is reshaping the South Florida soccer scene.

From humble beginnings to launching a fully professional men’s team in USL League One, Spencer shares Fort Lauderdale United’s journey, including:

• Their 7,000-seat stadium on the NSU campus
• Com...

Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Matt Valentine and Sam Morton. Matt is the Chairman & Co-Founder of Atlético Dallas, and Sam is the Chief Commercial Officer & Co-Founder. In this episode, we dive deep into the foundational vision behind launching a USL Championship club in North Texas. Matt and Sam share how their complementary roles drive the club’s growth&md...

Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Rob Uvanovic, the Executive Director at Miami SCORES. In this inspiring episode, Rob shares how his international experience across 15+ countries has shaped his leadership philosophy and passion for soccer-driven social impact. We explore the unique Miami SCORES model that blends soccer, poetry, and service-learning to empower youth, especially in u...

Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Hugh Roberts II, the CEO & Founder of BackYardFooty and an 11-year professional soccer player who recently made history as the all-time minutes leader in USL Championship history. In this episode, Hugh opens up about the mindset and motivation that fueled his remarkable longevity in the game, the inspiration behind BackYardFooty’s raw and ...

Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our host Kareem Rae sits down with Ethan Zohn. Ethan is the Co-Founder of Grassroot Soccer, a global adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to educate and inspire young people to live healthier lives. In this episode, Ethan shares his incredible journey—from playing professional soccer and winning Survivor: Africa, to battling cancer and using his pla...

Welcome to The One Soccer Nation Podcast! Today, our Co-Host Kaela Hansen sits down with Samantha Rosette, a Professional Soccer Player at Brooklyn FC. Samantha's journey has taken her across the globe, from Kazakhstan to Lithuania to France, before returning home to make history with Brooklyn FC—the first professional women’s soccer team in NYC. In this episode, we discuss how her international experiences have shaped ...