It’s officially a World Cup year — but the road to 2026 is already uneasy.

As the random ticket draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup closes, millions of fans are hoping for seats to what FIFA calls the biggest sporting event in history. At the same time, a growing number are calling for a boycott, driven by political fear, rising costs, and real concerns about safety and welcome in the United States under Donald Trump.

In this solo year-opening episode, Michael LoRé wrestles with the tension forming around a tournament meant to unite the world. Immigration enforcement, visa uncertainty, gun violence fears, and dynamic pricing are colliding with the promise of a joyful global celebration — leaving many fans asking whether it’s worth the risk to attend at all.

Michael places the moment in historical context, examining how major sporting events have been shaped — and sometimes overshadowed — by politics and power. The question facing 2026 is simple but urgent: can North America host a World Cup that actually feels safe, open, and welcoming for everyone wearing a different flag?

The episode then turns to a more hopeful storyline in women’s football. As the NWSL battles European leagues for elite talent, new rules designed to retain stars like Trinity Rodman signal a league entering a serious, global phase. The return of U.S. captain Lindsay Heaps adds momentum at a moment when investment and ambition in the women’s game are finally aligning.

The World Cup is coming. The demand is real. The stakes are enormous. Whether 2026 becomes a celebration or a cautionary tale is still being decided.

For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

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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 Ryan Hammond, 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 frequencymachine.com

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

World Cup 2026 will be the biggest sporting spectacle in human history — with a projected 3.7 billion viewers for the final alone. In the Finance of Football season finale, Michael LoRé is joined by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy to explain what it really means to host the World Cup Final in New Jersey and the scale of what’s coming to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

They break down the reality behind hosting: fan zones like Liberty State Park, millions of visitors to the New York–New Jersey region, and how FIFA is turning the tournament into a month-long cultural takeover rather than just a series of matches.

The Murphys also share how soccer became central to their family life — from early fandom and time in Germany to investing in Gotham FC and backing women’s soccer long before it was fashionable — and why they see the NWSL’s rise as both a moral win and a long-term growth story.

The episode closes on what they hope 2026 leaves behind: more access, more participation, new community pitches, and a sport that continues to bring people together long after the final whistle.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

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And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

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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

---

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

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

The World Cup draw just turned into a full-blown circus — comedians, concerts, fake peace prizes, supermodels, and a two-day TV marathon before a single ball was revealed. This week, Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé break it all down with Men in Blazers founder Roger Bennett, who was in the middle of the madness.

Roger explains why FIFA is transforming the 2026 World Cup into an American-style entertainment product — and why this draw may be the preview of a tournament that changes football forever. What used to “be an email” is now a global spectacle, and he says that’s no accident.

They also dig into the biggest storyline fans aren’t ready for: 2026 might be the most expensive World Cup in history. Tickets, hotels, travel — everything is skyrocketing. But Roger argues it won’t matter. Every World Cup starts in panic and ends in pure chaos and joy on the streets — from Brazil’s beach takeovers to South Africa’s vuvuzela mania. Kansas City hosting Argentina? Unreal scenes incoming.

Then the conversation zooms out: how did America go from ignoring the 1994 World Cup to becoming one of the most plugged-in football markets in the world? Roger walks through the long game — Beckham, Messi, NWSL growth, streaming, FIFA video games — and what’s at stake for MLS and the U.S. men’s national team heading into 2026.

And finally, Roger gives the prediction only Roger could give: Haaland as a Nordic Shaq, the Village People somehow already winning, and why he still dreams of a U.S. run on home soil. If you want to understand what’s coming in 2026 — the hype, the money, the chaos, the opportunity — this is the episode.

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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 frequencymachine.com

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

This week on Finance of Football, Michael LoRé goes solo and dives into a set of stories that say everything about where the sport is headed — on the field, on TV, and inside the minds of the people who play it.

The MLS Cup delivers a dream matchup in Messi vs Müller — a reminder that the league’s biggest currency is still star power, and that the Beckham Effect didn’t end with Beckham. Miami’s commercial boom, global branding, MVP hardware, and stadium ambitions all point to one uncomfortable truth: in 2025, the MLS title isn’t just a trophy, it’s a business case.

Meanwhile, FIFA is turning the 2026 World Cup draw into a two-day entertainment saga — splitting groups, venues, and kickoff times into separate broadcasts. Whether that’s logistical necessity or pure commercial engineering, it raises the real question: has football fully crossed the line into American-style event-making? Draft-night theatrics, extended sponsor windows, halftime concerts… this is the future, whether fans want it or not.

And then, a counterweight to all the noise: Ronald Araújo stepping away from Barcelona for mental health reasons. A rare moment where the sport’s relentless machine pauses and acknowledges that players aren’t assets or storylines, they’re people — with the same pressure points, holiday-season heaviness, and invisible battles as everyone else. A quiet reminder that the business of football only works if the humans inside it are actually okay.

It’s an episode about spectacle and sincerity, money and meaning — how MLS is scripting its blockbuster era, how FIFA continues to stretch every moment into an “event,” and how mental health in elite sport is finally being treated as something real instead of something inconvenient. All of it framed inside a chaotic, shifting moment for the global game as North America gears up for the biggest World Cup ever.

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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 frequencymachine.com

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

Fresh off a 10-point title, Liverpool ditched its usual slow-and-steady approach and blew the doors off the transfer window. They broke their own record twice in one summer, bringing in Florian Wirtz for £116 million and Alexander Isak for £125 million — now the most expensive signing in British football. Add Hugo Ekitike and a handful of others, and Liverpool’s total spending soared to roughly £449 million including add-ons.

But massive spending doesn’t guarantee instant results. And rebuilding a champion is a lot messier than it looks on deadline day.

This episode dives into why Liverpool went so big, how they kept their net spend surprisingly low through player trading, and why such a dramatic overhaul is so out of character for the club. We look at how long it actually takes a squad full of expensive new arrivals to gel — and whether this rebuild might already be showing cracks.

From there, the conversation widens to the shifting economics of the Premier League in the new PSR era: fewer Galáctico-style deals, more investment in depth, and a transfer market now shaped in part by Saudi Arabia’s willingness to take high-wage fringe players off clubs’ books. All of it sits on top of a media-rights model that still assumes money will keep rising forever — even as signs of stagnation appear.

We also explore the tension between free-spending leagues and parity-focused systems like MLS and the NWSL. Is unpredictability actually better for long-term value? And what does it mean when global stars — from Messi to rising young talent — cross into the American game?

Finally, there’s the view across the Atlantic: how MLS is perceived in England, what aligning the league calendar with Europe could unlock, and why the 2026 World Cup feels both massively promising and strangely overshadowed by politics and uncertainty.

From Liverpool’s record-breaking gamble to the future of transfers, parity, MLS, and the World Cup, this episode breaks down how money, risk, and entertainment are reshaping football on both sides of the ocean.

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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 frequencymachine.com

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

After nearly 30 years, Major League Soccer is finally aligning with the global football calendar. Starting in 2027, MLS will shift to a summer-to-spring season with a winter break — avoiding clashes with the NFL, syncing with European competitions, and positioning the league for better transfer windows and playoff visibility.

At the same time, MLS is ending its Apple TV partnership early and scrapping MLS Season Pass. Michael LoRé and Asli Pelit break down why the deal fizzled, how paywalls hurt growth, and what a new media-rights landscape could look like with platforms like Amazon, Netflix, and traditional networks now in play.

They also look at major changes in the USL, which will introduce promotion and relegation beginning in 2027 — a move that could reshape broadcast value, fan interest, and competitive pressure across American soccer.

On this episode of Finance of Football, Michael and Asli explore how calendar shifts, media rights moves, and the rise of pro-rel could redefine the business of soccer in the United States.

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

A record NWSL expansion, a college star turned investor, and Messi popping up in two stadiums—this week’s episode has everything.

Asli and Michael kick off with the NWSL playoffs, a weekend full of chaos and upsets that proved once again why this league delivers pure drama. Asli questions whether the short playoff format does the excitement justice, but Michael argues that if you’ve got heartbreak and high stakes, the system’s working.

The big headline? Atlanta’s new NWSL franchise. At a record $165 million expansion fee—over 50% more than Denver’s deal—the city is cementing itself as a soccer capital. Arthur Blank’s AMB Sports & Entertainment (Falcons, Atlanta United, Mercedes-Benz Stadium) is behind the bid, and Asli notes that Atlanta’s also now home to U.S. Soccer’s new headquarters and World Cup matches in 2026.

Then, a first for women’s sports: USC basketball star JuJu Watkins becomes the first college athlete to invest in a pro team, joining the Boston Legacy ownership group. Asli and Michael unpack how NIL is reshaping college sports, turning athletes into entrepreneurs with real equity and long-term strategy.

The NWSL also announced its new advisory board featuring icons like Magic Johnson, Elizabeth Banks, Chris Paul, Brandi Chastain, and Alex Morgan—proof the league’s growth is attracting serious power players.

And yes, Messi’s in the mix too—appearing at both Inter Miami’s new stadium and Barcelona’s revamped Camp Nou, just casually boosting global headlines.

Finally, Michael shares takeaways from his trip to Germany and his visit to Union Berlin—a club literally built by its fans, funded by donated blood and sweat. It’s the kind of grassroots authenticity American sports rarely touch.

From underdog clubs to superstar investors, this week’s episode shows how passion, purpose, and profit are reshaping the global game—one franchise, one boardroom, and one blood-donating fanbase at a time.

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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 frequencymachine.com

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

Heineken’s out, Budweiser’s in—and soccer’s sponsorship landscape may never look the same.

This week, Asli and Michael kick things off with the end of a 30-year partnership: AB InBev is replacing Heineken as the official beer of the UEFA Champions League starting in 2027, doubling the annual fee to more than $230 million. Asli wonders if the European prestige will fade, while Michael sees it as the next phase of soccer’s global takeover—and a warning to every legacy sponsor that no brand is too iconic to be replaced.

Then it’s over to U.S. Soccer, which just posted record revenue of $263.7 million for 2025. Asli recalls how brands like Chobani are showing up beyond the pitch—family activations, freebies, and sugar-free yogurt for kids—while Michael asks the big question: will this cash ever reach the grassroots, or just fund new facilities at the top?

The conversation shifts to the U.S. soccer pyramid, where USL has made its boldest move yet—hiring Premier League exec Tony Scholes to lead its new Division One league and bring promotion and relegation to American soccer. Asli calls it “great drama and great business.” Michael agrees: “It’s what MLS can’t sell—stakes.”

Finally, the Seattle Sounders are hunting for new investors and exploring a soccer-specific stadium in Renton. Asli raises questions about accessibility and fan culture, while Michael points to a growing trend: every successful U.S. soccer club now wants a home of its own.

From sponsorship shakeups to stadium deals, Finance of Football dives into how money, marketing, and ambition are rewriting the rules of the beautiful game—one beer, one league, and one city at a time.

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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 frequencymachine.com

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