The One Soccer Nation Podcast

Moderator: Kareem Rae - CEO & Co-Founder, One Soccer Nation Speakers: Jennifer Roche - Director of Community and Legacy at FWC26 Miami Fabiola Garcia - Project Manger, Love FutbolRob Uvanovic - Executive Director, Miami Scores Dennis Gerkes - Influencer, Gerkicks ------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe for conversations with the executives, investors, and operators building the business of soccer. 👉 Interested in appearing on the podcast? Apply Here: https://onesoccernation.com/apply ------------------------------------------------- One Soccer Nation Website: https://www.onesoccernation.com Email: [email protected] ------------------------------------------------- © 2026 One Soccer Nation, under exclusive license to One Soccer Nation LLC. ------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: The One Soccer Nation Podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes only. Views expressed by host Kareem Rae and his guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the official position of One Soccer Nation (OSN) or any affiliated organization. Nothing discussed should be taken as investment, legal, or financial advice, or as a recommendation to pursue any particular investment or strategy. Please do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making any decisions.

Keal Blache leads global partnerships and strategy at vivenu, the technology leader in global event ticketing. vivenu was built on a simple conviction: the organizations that create live experiences should own them, from the ticket to the data to the revenue. Its API-first, white-label platform gives clubs, colleges, and event organizers full control over how they sell, who their fans are, and where every dollar flows, instead of renting that relationship from a ticketing middleman. Trusted by brands like the Grammy Awards, HYROX, Stanford Athletics, and the Special Olympics, vivenu supports hundreds of premier event enterprises in more than 40 countries. That model brought Schalke to vivenu in 2021 and convinced the club to extend the partnership by six more years. It's also what's driving adoption across North America, where close to 70 clubs in the USL ecosystem and more than 150 colleges now run their ticketing on vivenu. For a club like Schalke, whose 220,000 members are its most valuable asset, the level of fan experience options vivenu offers fits 100% to the club's culture and strategic positioning. ------------------------------------------------- Guests:Matthias Tillmann, CEO, FC Schalke 04Keal Blache, VP of Global Partnerships and Strategy, vivenu Host:Kareem Rae, Founder and CEO, One Soccer Nation ------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe & Stay Connected 👉 Interested in appearing on the podcast? Apply Here: https://onesoccernation.com/apply ------------------------------------------------- © 2026 One Soccer Nation, under exclusive license to One Soccer Nation LLC. ------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: Kareem Rae runs One Soccer Nation (OSN) all views expressed by him and the guests on his podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the views of One Soccer Nation. You should not treat any opinion expressed by Kareem or his guests as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of his personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Investment opportunities are offered through One Soccer Nation LLC. The information contained herein is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not intended to be a recommendation for any investment, service, product, or other advice of any kind, and shall not constitute or imply an offer of any kind. Any investment opportunities and/or products or services shown here will only be completed pursuant to formal offering materials, a letter of intent, and/or any other agreements as determined by One Soccer Nation containing full details regarding risks, minimum investment, fees, and expenses of such transaction. The terms of any product, service, or particular investment opportunity, including size, costs, and other characteristics, are set forth in the applicable constituent documents for such product, service or particular investment opportunity and may differ materially from those presented in this presentation. Such terms are subject to change without notice. Quotes included in these materials related to One Soccer Nation’s services should not be construed in any way as an endorsement of One Soccer Nation's advice, analysis, or other service rendered to its clients/investors.

Atletico Dallas chairman Matt Valentine reveals the signing of Javier Hernandez and explains why he now owns two professional clubs sharing the Cotton Bowl. Valentine is chairman and founder of Atletico Dallas, which acquired Dallas Trinity FC from the league in June and now runs both clubs under USL Dallas LLC. He walks through why the operation will play 37 games in 38 weeks at the Cotton Bowl, and what he does and does not control in a stadium owned by the City of Dallas, where parking and food and beverage revenue largely stay with the city. He details the youth business underneath it: Renegades Soccer Club, rebranded Atletico Dallas Youth, now 180 teams, just under 3,000 players, and over seven million dollars in revenue at an eight to fifteen percent net margin. The conversation gets into the parts that are harder to sell. Valentine says there are almost no savings on the sporting side, that Garland walking away from the stadium project was a real setback, and that municipal negotiation looks nothing like buying pipeline right of way in the energy business. He argues that investors outside Texas misread the market, that Dallas County holds 2.7 million people with FC Dallas 38 miles away in Frisco, and that division level matters far less than community and ticket sales. He also breaks the news, 48 hours ahead of Fabrizio Romano's exclusive, that Javier Hernandez has signed as the club's first player. What we cover: Buying Dallas Trinity FC from the league rather than from the Neal family Why 14 player departures were expiring contracts and not a fire sale Where women's sponsorship could outperform the men's side in Dallas The Cotton Bowl tenancy, 37 games in 38 weeks, and the revenue the city keeps Garland's exit and the 15,000 seat Division One threshold Signing Javier Hernandez and what it does to jersey and ticket projections Matt Valentine is chairman and founder of Atletico Dallas, a USL Championship club kicking off in 2027, and built Rimrock Midstream in oil and gas infrastructure. ------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe for conversations with the executives, investors, and operators building the business of soccer. 👉 Interested in appearing on the podcast? Apply Here: https://onesoccernation.com/apply ------------------------------------------------- One Soccer Nation Info: Website: https://onesoccernation.com ------------------------------------------------- © 2026 One Soccer Nation, under exclusive license to One Soccer Nation LLC. ------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: Kareem Rae runs One Soccer Nation (OSN) all views expressed by him and the guests on his podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the views of One Soccer Nation. You should not treat any opinion expressed by Kareem or his guests as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of his personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Investment opportunities are offered through One Soccer Nation LLC. The information contained herein is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not intended to be a recommendation for any investment, service, product, or other advice of any kind, and shall not constitute or imply an offer of any kind. Any investment opportunities and/or products or services shown here will only be completed pursuant to formal offering materials, a letter of intent, and/or any other agreements as determined by One Soccer Nation containing full details regarding risks, minimum investment, fees, and expenses of such transaction. The terms of any product, service, or particular investment opportunity, including size, costs, and other characteristics, are set forth in the applicable constituent documents for such product, service or particular investment opportunity and may differ materially from those presented in this presentation.

Elite soccer careers can break down long before the first pro contract - not on the field, but in the classroom. Laurel Springs School explains how serious athletes can keep training, travel, and still stay fully on track for college, NCAA eligibility, and life after sports. Host Kareem Rae sits down with Alyssa Tormala, Head of School at Laurel Springs, and Jack Dempsey, who leads strategic partnerships, to unpack why online education has become a game-changer for MLS academies, youth clubs, and families trying to balance ambition with academics. With 35 years of experience, Laurel Springs has built a fully online, fully flexible K-12 model serving students across all 50 states and more than 100 countries - and it has quietly become a trusted option for high-level student-athletes around the world. You'll discover why traditional school calendars clash with elite training schedules, how rolling enrolment and mid-year entry reduce family pressure, and what a true day in the life of a Laurel Springs student actually looks like. Alyssa breaks down the difference between online school and emergency remote learning, the support system families get at home, and how students build the time-management and self-advocacy skills they need for college. Jack shares what clubs ask most often, why reputable academies care about proven outcomes, and how Laurel Springs can support everything from full-time enrolment to a single course for athletes who need to fill NCAA gaps. The conversation also covers AP courses, dual enrolment, UC approval, NCAA-approved curriculum, and the myth that online school means "less rigorous." Laurel Springs backs it up with results: 90% of students taking AP exams earned a 3 or higher in 2025, graduates earned an average of $198,000 in scholarships over the last three years, and alumni have gone on to more than 460 unique colleges - plus the pro ranks. If you're a parent, coach, or club leader asking how to give athletes more time without sacrificing academic quality, this episode lays out the model. It is especially relevant for families navigating travel, attendance thresholds, college recruiting, or the pressure of trying to make two demanding worlds fit into one schedule. For anyone serious about soccer, this is the blueprint for doing both. Fully accredited, private online education for K-12: https://partners.laurelsprings.com/OneSoccerNation ------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe & Stay Connected 👉 Interested in appearing on the podcast? Apply Here: https://onesoccernation.com/apply ------------------------------------------------- © 2026 One Soccer Nation, under exclusive license to One Soccer Nation LLC. ------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: Kareem Rae runs One Soccer Nation (OSN) all views expressed by him and the guests on his podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the views of One Soccer Nation. You should not treat any opinion expressed by Kareem or his guests as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of his personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Investment opportunities are offered through One Soccer Nation LLC. The information contained herein is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not intended to be a recommendation for any investment, service, product, or other advice of any kind, and shall not constitute or imply an offer of any kind. Any investment opportunities and/or products or services shown here will only be completed pursuant to formal offering materials, a letter of intent, and/or any other agreements as determined by One Soccer Nation containing full details regarding risks, minimum investment, fees, and expenses of such transaction.

Football governance sounds dry until you realize it decides whether your club survives. In this episode, Kareem Rae sits down with Mark O'Neill, a PhD researcher at the University of Westminster studying whether football's ownership regulations actually protect the people who matter most: the fans. Mark breaks down the cases that exposed the cracks in the system, including Dai Yongge's collapse at Reading FC, the Sheffield Wednesday saga, and why the owners and directors test can only act after the damage is done. He explains what England's new independent regulator changes, why English clubs remain a uniquely attractive asset class for American investors, and what the Wrexham story really tells us about buying low in a promotion and relegation system. The conversation also goes inside the Crystal Palace and Eagle Football case, with Mark, a lifelong Palace supporter, explaining UEFA's controlling influence test in plain terms and why Palace's demotion to the Conference League angered so many fans. Plus: nation-state ownership and the Abramovich precedent, why Mark would ban multi-club ownership outright, FIFA's tax exemptions and ticketing controversies heading into the 2026 World Cup, and the one piece of advice he'd give any first-time club investor. Topics covered: Why the owners and directors test only works after a triggering event Reading FC, Sheffield Wednesday, and the checked-out owner problem England's new independent football regulator English clubs vs American franchises as investment assets UEFA's controlling influence test and the Crystal Palace case Nation-state ownership and the Chelsea sale The case for banning multi-club ownership World Cup 2026 governance, taxes, and ticketing Mark O'Neill Links: Website: https://www.sportlawmusings.com/ Substack: https://substack.com/@markoneill468207 Twitter: https://x.com/markoneill122no LinkedIn: / markoneill3 ------------------------------------------------- 🔔 Subscribe & Stay Connected 👉 Interested in appearing on the podcast? Apply Here: https://onesoccernation.com/apply ------------------------------------------------- © 2026 One Soccer Nation, under exclusive license to One Soccer Nation LLC. ------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: Kareem Rae runs One Soccer Nation (OSN) all views expressed by him and the guests on his podcast are solely their opinions and do not reflect the views of One Soccer Nation. You should not treat any opinion expressed by Kareem or his guests as a specific inducement to make a particular investment or follow a particular strategy, but only as an expression of his personal opinion. This podcast is for informational purposes only. Investment opportunities are offered through One Soccer Nation LLC. The information contained herein is provided for informational and discussion purposes only and is not intended to be a recommendation for any investment, service, product, or other advice of any kind, and shall not constitute or imply an offer of any kind. Any investment opportunities and/or products or services shown here will only be completed pursuant to formal offering materials, a letter of intent, and/or any other agreements as determined by One Soccer Nation containing full details regarding risks, minimum investment, fees, and expenses of such transaction. The terms of any product, service, or particular investment opportunity, including size, costs, and other characteristics, are set forth in the applicable constituent documents for such product, service or particular investment opportunity and may differ materially from those presented in this presentation. Such terms are subject to change without notice. Quotes included in these materials related to One Soccer Nation’s services should not be construed in any way as an endorsement of One Soccer Nation's advice, analysis, or other service rendered to its clients/investors.