Global Brand Leader | Strategy+Creative+Culture | ex-Nike, adidas | Professor | Youth Soccer Board President
I've listened to the Men In Blazers Media Network for over a decade and they've become the preeminent voice on Soccer in the U.S. They released their National Survey "FROM SEA TO SHINING FC": How America Has Become Obsessed with Global Soccer, a month ago... here are my 3?? biggest takeaways from it -- and 3?? implications as we race towards the bggest event on the planet, FIFA World Cup 2026? - Canada, Mexico and the United States ?? ?? ?? ---- ?? Americans will travel for soccer! Both Transatlantic as well as North America wide. ?? Therefore 2026 Host Cities as well as brands better be adding meaningful value to the experience of following a nation around the U.S., Canada and Mexico for those 2-4 weeks. This could be way finding soccer and cultural hot spots to take in between matches or partnering with other cities and travel partners to make the experience more seamless vs divided. ? ?? ?? More and more Americans (especially younger) are ok supporting multiple teams. Either due to player movement, fantasy sports or less club loyal soccer fandom. ?? Therefore if I'm an MLS club or even NBA, WNBA, NFL, NHL, MLB, NWSL club in North America, I am 100% thinking about how to transfer over World Cup fever with new visitors in my backyard to pick up new fans locally, regionally and globally during the summer of 2026. Co-branded merch and content come to mind. ?? A whopping 60% of Americans aged 18-24 are "soccer fans" now. ?? Therefore, if brands or host cities aren't thinking about your future consumer or fan and how they connect into the sport through gaming, music, or fashion (other passions this group care about)-- then you are missing your potential. -- Btw, you can download your copy of the report right here: mibcourage.co/3xeA3Xn