Roger Bennett says we’re entering the American century of soccer

Roger Bennett, co-founder of the Men in Blazers media network, stated that the United States is entering the "American century of soccer" on March 26, 2024. Bennett, who moved to the U.S. after college and became a citizen, launched the Men in Blazers podcast on ESPN in 2010, recognizing a gap in American sports journalism regarding elite European soccer leagues. The network has since expanded significantly, now employing 97 full-time staff and producing 15 additional podcasts, alongside a TV show on NBC and documentaries. In 2025, Men in Blazers secured $15 million in Series A funding to enhance coverage leading up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across 16 North American cities. Bennett discussed the network's growth, its brand partnerships with companies like Marriott, Michelob Ultra, Visa, and Unilever, and the challenges of Americanizing the world's most popular sport. He believes the upcoming World Cup represents a pivotal moment for soccer's mainstream adoption in the U.S., moving it from a sport perpetually "of the future" to a present reality.