To Stoke Soccer Fans, Men in Blazers Will Host Shows at World Cup Sites

New York Times

11-06-2025

When Roger Bennett moved to Chicago in 1994, none of the local television channels were showcasing an important match involving his favorite soccer team. Bennett was forced to call his father back in Liverpool, England, who held his phone against the radio so that Bennett could follow along.
Three decades later, soccer fans in America have a much easier time following their beloved players and teams. But Bennett, who founded the Men in Blazers Media Network, is still looking for ways to amplify the game's domestic fervor, as the United States prepares to host next year's men's World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada.
Men in Blazers is announcing on Wednesday that it will host live pregame shows during the tournament in eight of the 11 U.S. metropolitan areas that are hosting World Cup matches. The shows, known as 'Match Day Live,' will be distributed across the company's social media and digital channels.
The nationwide tour is an attempt to mimic ESPN's 'College GameDay,' which has built a rabid audience by visiting a college campus that is hosting a marquee football game every Saturday morning during the fall.
'In any other nation, a World Cup coming, from years out, the ecstasy would be building,' Bennett said. 'What 2026 is going to cement is this final moment where America falls in love with football like the rest of the world, and we will be front row privy to that incredible cultural moment of transformation.'
Each show will be taped at a recognizable landmark, said Bennett, adding that he hoped to highlight the history and cultural and culinary life of each city. In Atlanta, the show will broadcast from Centennial Park, a prominent space during the 1996 Summer Olympics.
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