This week Francis is joined by Kyle Sheldon, founder and CEO of Name and Number, a soccer specific marketing and creative agency. Kyle has worked within the US soccer world for two decades and held marketing roles at multiple MLS clubs. Kyle is also the founder and editor of Pathway, a newsletter aimed at helping individuals break into the soccer industry.
Kyle: https://x.com/kylesheldon
Name and Number: https://www.nameandnumber.com
Pathway: https://pathwayhq.com
00:00 Introducing Kyle Sheldon
01:05 The evolution of soccer and sports marketing
04:28 Becoming the driving force in growing soccer in the US
09:25 Growing careers in the soccer industry
12:22 Pathway's natural growth has led to extremely high engagement
17:32 The potential future growth of the soccer industry is massive
21:20 Navigating the soccer-creator industry requires expertise
24:49 The fashion culture within soccer
28:19 Empowering creators to thrive in the soccer space
32:22 US vs European football content culture
41:36 The shifting power dynamic between creators and traditional media
50:32 Partnership advice for creators and brands
