iHeartMedia Kicks Off Year-Round Soccer Strategy With New Podcast Network.

With research showing podcast listeners are more likely to be World Cup fans, and strong television ratings for the 2026 matches, iHeartMedia has created the iHeart Soccer Podcast Network. The collection has more than 20 podcasts in English and Spanish. And while the focus may now be on the World Cup, iHeartMedia says the network will be a year-round destination for soccer fans.

The new iHeart Soccer Podcast Network lineup includes “Learning to Be Human,” in which Javier “Chicharito” Hernández uses football as a starting point for conversations about purpose, faith, love and life’s mistakes. In “Sabor a Fútbol con Daniella Durán,” Durán looks beyond the scoresheet with player conversations about their lives on and off the field.

“Inside American Soccer” pairs coach and former U.S. Men’s National Team player Tab Ramos with soccer journalist Tom Bogert for analysis and coverage of the biggest stories shaping the U.S. game. Novelists Daniel Alarcón and John Green bring football together with politics, literature and culture in “The Away End with Daniel Alarcón and John Green,” examining the World Cup and the global game from a broader perspective.

“American Futbol” explores how soccer’s outsider status in the U.S. helped build a passionate fan culture through narrative storytelling and interviews, while “Ain’t It Footy” brings a comedic weekly roundtable to the sport with Miles Gray, Jamel Johnson and Chris Martin.

Two soon-to-launch podcasts are also joining the network, including “Whatever It Takes,” debuting in July with USWNT legend Carli Lloyd and Fox Sports’ Jenny Taft discussing sports, family and high-level performance. And “Big Kick Energy with Cameron Dicker” is also coming soon.

The World Cup has already had a prime position on the iHeartRadio app as Fox Sports partnered with iHeartMedia to carry live audio of its English-language play-by-play of matches. Under the agreement, Fox Sports’ television commentary for all 104 tournament matches stream through the iHeartRadio app. Coverage is available through a dedicated FIFA World Cup 2026 channel on the iHeartRadio app, which is available on more than 500 platforms and 2,000 devices. It also airs on iHeartMedia’s Fox Sports Radio stations through the July 19 championship match.

Edison Research reports that podcast audiences are more likely to be engaged in the World Cup. Drawing on data from the Sports Poll, a syndicated consumer research service operated by SSRS, Edison says 55% of podcast fans say they are interested in the World Cup vs. 47% of the overall U.S. population. Among avid podcast fans, interest is even stronger. Edison found 22% of heavy podcast consumers describe themselves as very interested in the tournament, vs. 15% of Americans overall.