Roger Bennett

The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup officially kicks off this week and for the first time it will be hosted by three countries across North America. First, we preview the epic tournament with global soccer reporter Meg Swanick to learn what we can expect from this year's Cup, the key players to watch, and which country is likely to take home the title. Then, we’ll sit down with one of the most influential voices in sports, a man who’s been at the forefront of bringing soccer to American audiences. Roger Bennett is a British-American journalist and founder of Men In Blazers, the largest independent soccer media network in North America. We’ll hear about his latest book, We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event, where he shares his favorite memories from World Cups past and the ways soccer tournaments can help unite a divided world. Show Notes We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Sporting Event | Roger Bennett Check out the Men in Blazers Podcast A World Cup for a continent that’s falling apart | POLITICO From national pride to fascism: how countries have used the World Cup to build identity | The Guardian The Swan Dive with Megan Swanick on Substack Show Credits Host: David Greene Executive Producers: Joan Isabella, Tom Grahsler Senior Producer: Michael Olcott Producer: Michaela Winberg Associate Producer: Bibiana Correa Talent Booker: Britt Kahn Engineers: Mike Villers, Charlie Kaier Tile Art: Bea Walling Theme Song: Emma Munger Sports in America is a production of WHYY, distributed by PRX, and part of the NPR podcast network

The countdown is on to the start of the World Cup. The tournament is the biggest in the event's history, with 48 teams competing across the United States, Canada and Mexico. But organizers have faced criticism over ticket prices and geopolitical tensions have complicated travel for some teams and their supporters. Geoff Bennett discussed more with Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

The biggest sporting event on the planet is underway, with more than five billion people expected to follow the World Cup over the next month. But for many Americans, the World Cup is still something new: dozens of teams, unfamiliar players, and traditions that can seem foreign to casual fans.That's why we called Roger Bennett. Roger, founder and host of the Men in Blazers podcast and media network, has spent decades helping Americans understand and fall in love with soccer. His new book, We Are The World (Cup) , traces the history of the tournament and the moments that made it the most-watched event on Earth. In this conversation, Roger breaks down everything casual fans need to know: the teams to watch, the stars who could define the tournament, the favorites and dark horses, Team USA's chances, and the biggest storylines on and off the field.We also discuss how soccer went from an afterthought in America to one of the country's fastest-growing sports, what this World Cup says about the United States at this moment in time, and why the tournament remains one of the few events capable of bringing the entire world together. Whether you're a lifelong soccer fan or watching your first match, this is your World Cup primer.

Now wait a minute. We've got, like, a real sports episode this week, and our favorite Mersey menuvl is joining us. We're thrilled to have back our dear friend Roger Bennett! Roger, of course, is the head honcho at the Men in Blazers Media Network, where he hosts the podcast of the same name and is one of the foremost voices in the soccer world. His new book, We Are the World (Cup): A Personal History of the World's Greatest Sporting Event , is a must read for not only any sports fan but also any fan of memoirs. It's poignant, funny, and so worth your time! Roger helps Ronna (& Bryan) give advice, in his usual high/low fashion, to a woman trying to set boundaries with her artist mother and to a man who's wondering what the tipping etiquette is when you flirt with the waiter to get free stuff. Sponsors: Take comfort in Born Shoes! Go to bornshoes.com and use code RONNA for 15% off the full price of a pair today! Nutrafol is the number one dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement around, and we love it. Go to nutrafol.com and use code BRYAN for $10 off your first month's subscription. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Pochettino’s goalkeeper experiment failed? On Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard, our hosts discuss the U.S. Men’s National Team’s defeat to Belgium, a poor defensive showing, and whether or not the USMNT has a goalkeeper disaster on their hands. Plus, the guys are joined by podcast host and author Roger Bennett to discuss his new book We Are the World (Cup), his favorite World Cup memories and what his hopes are for the tournament this year. In the AT&T Mailbag, the guys answer your questions about the worst World Cup outcomes, and who might bring home silverware first to Merseyside: the reds or the blues. New episodes of Unfiltered Soccer with Landon and Tim drop every Tuesday. Subscribe to the show on YouTube and follow on all your favorite podcast platforms. For bonus content and to send your mailbag questions in to the show, follow on all social media platforms @UnfilteredSoccer. ( https://www.unfilteredsoccer.com ). Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard is presented by Volkswagen. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4g8bZG3 . Thank you to our additional sponsors: AT&T. Connecting Changes Everything. Visit https://att.com/guarantee to learn more. Coors Light. Choose Chill. Get Coors Light delivered. Go to CoorsLight.com/USLNT FanDuel. Secure your chance to score $100 BUCKS in bonus bets today. Download the FanDuel App to check out today's Soccer Daily Specials betting odds. Walmart. Walmart plays on Saturdays. Who knew? Visit walmart.com/MLS This episode of Unfiltered Soccer with Landon Donovan and Tim Howard was recorded at Quad Studios in NYC. It was edited and mastered by Jeremy Steinkamp and Andrew Hartley, with engineering support from Eric Newell. Our producers are Jordan Rizzieri and Andrew Gundling. Our social media lead is Dan Armelli and our social editor is Kyle Curley. 00:00 Intro 1:28 USMNT vs. Belgium recap 9:59 Turner vs. Freese 18:52 Any positives? 27:11 Roger Bennett joins the show! 30:52 Impact of the World Cup 43:09 Spurs turmoil 46:24 Up The Toffees! 54:02 Fan Connection Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can Americans really embrace the rest of the world's favorite sport? According to Roger Bennett, the founder and CEO of soccer media powerhouse Men in Blazers, we don't have to wait for this summer's World Cup -- the love affair with soccer is in full swing across the United States. In fact, Roger breaks the news to Alex that soccer has surpassed baseball as the country’s third most popular sport after (American) football and basketball. In this episode of The Deal, Alex and Jason talk to Bennett about soccer’s ascent into the hearts of American sports fans and into the portfolios of American investors. He also explains why the MLS will never be as popular as the Premier League, why soccer ownership is a great investment and why the World Cup is the pinnacle of athletic competition. Check out Roger’s new memoir We Are the World (Cup) You can also watch this interview on the Bloomberg Podcasts YouTube page . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. --- 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 .

Owen Wilson and Peter Dager make their Front Office Sports debut to chat about their new show on Apple TV+, Stick. It's a heartfelt, feel-good sports comedy about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before. Plus, Roger Bennett of Men in Blazers joins Renee Washington and Baker Machado to talk Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup, while FOS reporter Colin Salao joins the conversation to discuss the controversy around the promotion of women's matches at Roland-Garros. Key Moments: 0:42 – Big fines for rushing the field 3:46 – Roger Bennett discusses the FIFA Club World Cup 9:54 – Owen Wilson and Peter Dager talk “Stick” 17:36 – Colin Salao on the promotion of women at Roland Garros 22:15 – Is Ovechkin retiring? 📈 Don’t miss tomorrow’s top stories in the business and culture of sports — Subscribe now: https://www.youtube.com/@FrontOfficeSports/subscribe Front Office Sports Today is your daily guide on all things sports, business and culture, with insightful commentary and appearances from athletes, executives, and more. 📧 Newsletter: https://frontofficesports.com/newsletters/ 📱 Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/front-office-sports/ Twitter: https://x.com/FOS_Today Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fos_today/ 🎙️ Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/front-office-sports-today/id1579078258 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7jFxEurA627FJDd0XAw2Wc iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-front-office-sports-today-94429957/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 325 of the Sports Media Podcast with Richard Deitsch features three guests. First up is Men in Blazers co-founder Roger Bennett and USWNT midfielder and podcaster Sam Mewis, who have combined forces with longtime USWNT center back Becky Sauerbrunn to broadcast on Twitch during the Women’s World Cup. Bennett and Mewis will be live on the Men In Blazers’ Twitch feed for the Women’s World Cup semifinals and final. In this podcast, Bennett and Mewis discuss how they approach a second screen experience for soccer fans; why they have had audiences of more than 500,000 viewers on their Twitch feed; Mewis on watching the WWC coverage this month and how that differed from how she consumed media as a player; the next evolution of Men In Blazers; Mewis’s post-playing interest in working in the media and more. Dodd discusses his new book with Mark Dent, “Kingdom Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs, and How a Once Swingin' Cow Town Chased the Ultimate Comeback”; the roots of Kansas City and how it is Everytown USA; why Mahomes has succeeded; how Dodd views Mahomes historically; why Kansas City is unique as a sports town; why Dodd sees Mahomes as similar to Steph Curry; New York City sports versus Kansas City sports and how media coverage differs in each city and more. You can subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify, and more.

On a weekend when we celebrate America's birthday, FLIP IT ON ITS HEAD welcomes Roger Bennett, the co-host of the MEN IN BLAZERS podcast and NBC show, to discuss his unique journey to becoming an American citizen. Growing up in Liverpool, England in the 1980's was a grim experience, but Roger had his dreams of the America that MTV, Miami Vice and the Chicago Bears told him all about. And he turned that dream into a reality, becoming a citizen in 2018. We talk about being an immigrant and all that it means, as well as discussions of our beloved football. Roger Bennett's memoir, (RE)BORN IN THE USA , can be found here, and I encourage you to find it in a local bookstore near you: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/reborn Check out the MEN IN BLAZERS website: https://meninblazers.com/ Roger hosts ROAD TO THE CUP, with USWNT Captain Becky Sauerbrunn. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1QaEEky2OHi8GZYElq43ro?si=457259b868df4ac5

We’ve had questions about Apple’s new VR headset — supposedly set to debut in June — for some time. Starting with: Who’s going to pay $3,000 for these things, and what will they do with them? Turns out some Apple employees have the same questions — which is very unusual for a Big Deal Apple Debut, to say the very least. The NYT’s Tripp Mickle joins Vox’s Peter Kafka to explain. Then Peter checks in with Men In Blazers co-founder Roger Bennett, who is finally ready to talk about the business of running a soccer-mad digital media company, why niches are good, and his plans to scale up before the 2026 World Cup. Featuring : Tripp Mickle ( @trippmickle ), Tech Reporter for the New York Times Roger Bennett ( @rogbennett ), Co-Founder of Men In Blazers Host : Peter Kafka ( @pkafka ), Senior Editor at Recode More to explore : Subscribe for free to Recode Media , Peter Kafka, one of the media industry's most acclaimed reporters, talks to business titans, journalists, comedians, and more to get their take on today's media landscape. About Recode by Vox : Recode by Vox helps you understand how tech is changing the world — and changing us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Men In Blazers comes north as Roger Bennett joins Dunny, Craig & Jimmy to talk about The Beautiful Game and his brand new book Gods Of Soccer: The Pantheon of the 100 Greatest Soccer Players (according to us). A couple of iconic Canadians cracked the list! Rog talks about the selection process, what it was like growing up in Liverpool with his undying passion for Everton Football Club and the plight of Toffees supporters, and what it’s been like to watch the Canadian men’s national team ascend to a once unthinkable level under John Herdman. Roger Bennett “the human analogy”, the perfect INTVU guest. The Premier League has a new home in Canada this season: FuboTV. Don't miss a second of the action! Subscribe at: fubotv.com/footyprime Presenters: James Sharman, Jimmy Brennan, Craig Forrest, Brendan Dunlop and Dan Wong Voice Over Talent: Jeff Cole *This podcast has content that may use words and share tales that offend, please feel free to use your best discretion. Parental discretion is advised. Be advised this episode includes explicit language.* Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.