It’s supposed to be a week for presidents and prime ministers. But at this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was just as visible—glad-handing world leaders, cutting reels for social media, and pushing the conversation toward the 2030 World Cup.

Already the most complicated World Cup ever—with opening matches in South America before the bulk of games in Spain, Portugal, and Morocco—the tournament could now swell to 64 teams if CONMEBOL gets its way. The idea sounds inclusive, but critics say it risks diluting the product. Do fans really want Spain crushing Burkina Faso 8–0 on the biggest stage in sports? Or is this just the latest in FIFA’s money play, with more matches, more dates, and more billions flowing into the governing body’s coffers?

Hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé follow the money and the politics, from UEFA’s pushback to FIFA’s $13 billion revenue projection. They dive into the mounting toll on players—burnout, endless travel, and shortened careers—and the geopolitical theater around Infantino’s meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump. Along the way, they ask whether “growth” actually makes the game better, or simply bigger.

So tune in as Finance of Football unpacks how a trophy meant to unite the world could end up stretching it too far.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

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The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

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Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymahine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

That shiny golden trophy every soccer player desperately wants? It’s the most prestigious individual award in sports. But here’s the thing - the winner gets exactly zero dollars in prize money for it. So why do they weep on stage and launch campaigns to win one? Hint: it’s not just for the glory - it’s for the massive, seven-figure bonuses from clubs and sponsors that come with it. The Ballon d'Or isn't just an award; it's very, very good business.

On this episode, Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé follow the money trail, starting with the award's origin as a genius scheme by French journalists to get better access to the stars. They uncover how a “priceless” award generates millions in revenue and why luxury brands like Louis Vuitton are tripping over themselves to be associated with the spectacle.

And of course, it wouldn't be a global event without some drama. Asli and Michael dish the dirt on the boycotts (we're looking at you, Real Madrid) and the voting biases that have plagued the award for years.

So tune in to find out how a simple trophy became a financial powerhouse and the biggest, most glamorous, (and most controversial) night in sports.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymahine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The scene is becoming alarmingly familiar: a US Men’s National Team match at home. It should be a sea of red white and blue. Instead, the stands are an ocean of opposing colors and the cheers for the visitors drown out the home fans.

With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, U.S. Soccer is facing a billion-dollar question: why is it struggling to sell out its own stadiums? Is it the inconsistent product on the field? Or is it the price of admission, which has skyrocketed from an average of $28 to nearly $100 a ticket? In a diverse "soccer melting pot," how do you build a loyal American fanbase when so many have deep roots—and allegiances—to countries like Mexico and Colombia?

Hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé are joined by sports business expert Walter Franco (Victus) to dissect what the national team is doing on and off the pitch - and what it means for the future of the sport during the world cup… and beyond. Asli, Michael, and Walter break down everything from grassroots outreach to the sky-high prices that have fans joking about selling a kidney for a ticket, and debate how to reclaim home-field advantage before the whole world arrives.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymahine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.