Men in Blazers Scaled Digital Coverage of 2026 FIFA World Cup as Soccer Podcasts Surged
The digital-first media brand ran a roughly 100-person operation during the tournament, as U.S. soccer-podcast listening on Spotify climbed nearly 425%.
AfroEuropa Newsroom
AfroEuropa desk
The Men in Blazers Media Network mounted one of the more expansive digital media operations around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to an interview with founder and chief executive Roger Bennett published by Sports Video Group (SVG).
Bennett told SVG that the brand deployed a team of roughly 100 people to produce a steady flow of social content, daily podcasts and reaction shows, alongside 10 live "Match Day Live!" events held across the United States. The operation included a retrofitted broadcast bus, SVG reported. Bennett discussed the creative and logistical challenges of covering the tournament across multiple platforms and host cities, and described his approach to reaching audiences by "land, sea, and air."
Interest in soccer content has grown sharply since the tournament. SVG reported that soccer-podcast listening in the United States has risen nearly 425% on Spotify, making the country the platform's top global market for the category. Men in Blazers' own Spotify streams were up more than 880% since January.
Keep reading
MLB Brings Automated Ball-Strike Challenges and AR to the World Series
Major League Baseball is showcasing its ABS Challenge System, augmented reality, UmpCam and expanded drone coverage during the Brewers-Rays World Series.
Other highlights
WhatsApp Rolls Out Group Status and Message-Sharing Updates
The messaging app introduced Group Status updates visible only to group members, along with tools to share old messages with new members and pin messages.
Follow the story
One newsletter, two continents
The Bridge brings you the tech, startups, and leaders moving between Africa and Europe in one sharp email each morning. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
