The FIFA World Cup is just 500 days away, and Los Angeles will play host to the biggest party in America. The Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission (LASEC) attracts, secures, and supports high-profile sports and entertainment events in L.A., and they'll be driving the fan experience in 2026. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Jason Krutzsch explains how LASEC will support FIFA and gives us a sneak peak of what we can expect when the World Cup lands in Southern California ..read more

The "beautiful game" has many variations but perhaps the most exciting is 5v5 soccer. On this week's "The Bear & the Ball," host Nick Webster chats with Andrew Vorce, the president of one of the nation's largest 5v5 organizations which has recently partnered with Cal South. Andrew talks about his journey through soccer, the origins of his 5v5 company, and how they can help you easily start hosting your very own 5v5 tournaments ..read more

Earlier this week, the Cal South team invited our members to discuss US Soccer, and the announcement that the Birth Year vs. School Year debate is officially back on the table. In this episode of the Bear and the Ball, you'll hear the voices of the membership as they discuss their concerns, and hopes for how this very important subject will potentially play out ..read more

The Bear and the Ball welcomes back the founder of the AST Academy, Jim Madrid. This week we delve into the power of building culture and affirmations ..read more

As the founder of Unozero, Sam Garzon is taking on the big boys, namely, Nike, Adidas, and Puma. With a deep love of "the beautiful game," Sam has designed and produced some of the most desirable cleats in soccer. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Sam talks about his journey from Venezuela to America, and what was the inspiration behind creating the Unozero brand ..read more

Gianni Buttice is a national treasure. Not only is he an expert in the world's most popular fantasy game, Fantasy Premier League but he also helps run Street Child United, an NGO that does unbelievable work throughout the world. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Gianni describes the secrets of how to climb the FPL ladder along with his work in creating World Cups for homeless children. With the next edition landing on American shores in 2026, Los Angeles could be a prime host city for an event that truly changes lives ..read more

Gemma Thompson has lived the dream. As a young girl, she loved Manchester United and by writing a match report for the team, she won a competition that would change her life. Embedded with the Red Devils for over two decades, Gemma witnessed firsthand the winning of European trophies, Premier Leagues, and so much more. She developed close relationships with the players and the legendary manager, Sir Alex Ferguson. In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Gemma speaks about her incredible journey with one of the biggest clubs in the world ..read more

Bradley Mulvey is the founder and CEO of FirstStrikeSoccer.com. Since arriving in the USA from Glasgow, Scotland, Mulvey has reinvented 1-on-1 training. His methods have produced top-class youth, collegiate, and pro players. On this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," host Nick Webster discusses Bradley's soccer journey, and the four pillars of creating players that represent the best versions of themselves, namely, technical, tactical, physical, and most importantly, mentally strong individuals ..read more

Brazilian-born midfielder Marcelo Sarvas has had a fantastical journey within “the Beautiful Game,” beginning in his hometown of Sao Paulo, playing for the legendary Corinthians. From there, stops on teams in Sweden, Poland, and Costa Rica eventually led him to the United States, where he joined the Los Angeles Galaxy in David Beckham’s final year with the team. In his first of four seasons playing with the Galaxy, Sarvas won the MLS Cup and got a close-up understanding of what it takes to play at the most elite levels through his conversations with Beckham. In this episode of “The Bear & ..read more

Former USMNT player Maurice Edu is one of the most outstanding players of his generation. A product of Cal South and our Olympic Development Program, his journey to the professional ranks is truly inspirational. In this episode of "The Bear & the Ball," Maurice talks about the steps, the adversity, and ultimately the triumph of realizing his dream of becoming an international and playing on the world's biggest stages ..read more