Marc Horine shares For Soccer Ventures vision of using soccer for positive change
By Manny Arteaga (SMBA '22)
As soccer builds a stronger grip on U.S. sports culture, For Soccer Ventures is positioned to take a leading role in and capitalize on the growth of the beautiful game across the country. For Soccer Ventures Chief Business Officer Marc Horine recently spoke with the SDSU Sports MBA class to detail many facets of FSV’s mission to “drive participation and fanbase growth of the American game by engaging, activating and inspiring the American soccer community at all levels of the sport.”
Through its two verticals, FSV’s reach stretches from grassroots to the professional ranks and has created partnerships with the likes of PepsiCo, Verizon, CBS, and Allstate. Its investment in youth soccer and player development is a great example of using sports for positive change, and FSV’s multi-platform media company helps tell the stories of soccer in the United States.
SMBA ‘22 students listen in via Zoom to Marc Horine
For Soccer Ventures acquires Alianza de Futbol
We learned from Marc that For Soccer Ventures is very serious about being involved in the growth of every segment of soccer in the United States. In December 2020, his company acquired Alianza de Futbol, which hosts tournaments, clinics, and professional scouting events in predominantly Latino communities across the United States. Under For Soccer Ventures, Alianza has added professional scouting events for the girls' side along with an esports tournament to highlight the gaming culture. This demonstrates that For Soccer Ventures has tapped into one of the largest, if not the largest, soccer fanbase in the nation. And this is only a small portion of its overall mission!
What it meant to have Marc Horine speak to the SMBA class
The SDSU Sports MBA program has done an excellent job facilitating the connection to a diverse set of guest speakers who can share their professional experience in the sports industry. As a student, it was inspiring for me to hear Marc explain For Soccer Ventures’ mission and programs, particularly because we know some of the same people in the soccer space. Since 2017, I have been working with the Yours in Soccer Foundation and using the game as a vehicle for awareness in underserved communities. This is one of my greatest passions.
Soccer helped me elevate myself from a low-income community in San Diego to a student at Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school in Hanover, N.H. I never imagined myself attending such a prestigious institution, but if it were not for the game of soccer, I would not have been able to graduate from one. I graduated with a BA in Government and played for the Dartmouth men’s soccer team, where I won three Ivy League Championships. The experience was unforgettable, but more importantly, the lasting impact of attending such a school on myself, my family, and my community has propelled me to pay it forward through organizations such as FSV’s Alianza de Futbol.
Yours in Soccer Foundation and Access U SIP
For the last couple of years, the Yours in Soccer Foundation has partnered with Access U to host a Summer Immersion Program for high school scholar-athletes from across the country. Access U is the side of Alianza de Futbol that helps players navigate the college soccer route. Similarly, Yours in Soccer helps underserved student-athletes navigate the college soccer recruitment process. The program takes place in San Diego, where the student-athletes stay in the dorms of a local university. They spend a week undergoing college-readiness workshops and compete in the famous Surf Cup. This partnership between Yours in Soccer and Access U has solidified a platform for underserved soccer players in the United States, and For Soccer Ventures is part of it!
For Soccer Ventures Chief Business Officer Marc Horine recently spoke with SMBA '22 about FSV’s mission
My connection with For Soccer Ventures
You always hear that “the soccer world is small,” and I've found this to be true. I first heard about For Soccer Ventures a couple of years ago when I was attending an Alianza de Futbol tour. My colleagues were discussing a company attempting to grow soccer in the United States. While it seemed like a bold and ambitious idea then, FSV has flourished into an amazing business that is exponentially realizing the dream of growing soccer. As we get closer to 2026 when the United States welcomes the World Cup, along with co-hosts Mexico and Canada, the potential is unlimited.
For Soccer Ventures is an innovative company composed of elite visionaries who are relentlessly growing soccer in the United States. We are so fortunate to have met Marc Horine and have him share his insights as a leader from within the organization. We are excited to see how the For Soccer Ventures’ momentum unfolds and amplifies the game over the next few years.
