The question has haunted American soccer for decades: why can’t the U.S. Men’s National Team win it all? The money is there. The facilities are world-class. The fanbase is growing faster than ever. And yet, the pipeline that produces global stars in Brazil, France, and Argentina keeps breaking down here at home.

With the 2026 World Cup fast approaching, hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé sit down with former U.S. international and soccer entrepreneur Kyle Martino to talk about what it will really take to build a winning program. Martino argues that America doesn’t need more billion-dollar stadiums—it needs more pickup games on blacktop. From his Street FC project to the American Football Company, he’s building access, joy, and creativity back into the sport at its foundation.

Together, they dig into how the U.S. can move past its pay-to-play culture, get kids playing for love instead of status, and create the kind of everyday soccer environment that turns raw talent into world champions.

So tune in as Finance of Football explores Kyle Martino’s vision for the future of U.S. Soccer—and how a return to the streets might finally bring the country men’s titles.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

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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

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