What It's Like to be a SUPER FAN and visit 90 stadiums in 19 countries

Welcome to Episode 11 of the Because Football Podcast presented by Transform Soccer. Our guest is Jessica Malone, a Soccer SUPER FAN who has visited 90 stadiums in 19 countries and attended 4 FIFA World Cups! Jessica first got the soccer bug watching the 1999 Women's World Cup and attended a quarterfinal doubleheader - watching eventual hero Brandi Chastain score an own goal 5 minutes into the match - only to equalize off a corner kick before halftime. Jessica grew up playing soccer in Pennsylvania, but her soccer fandom exploded to the next level in 2019, when she took a sabbatical from her job to travel the world, packing her itinerary with legendary stadiums, clubs, and players. Her dream was to watch Lionel Messi play (which she did twice in a week!) and after achieving that, she travelled through Europe, South, and Central America attending games. Her travels have been documented by CNN, BBC, Howler, and numerous soccer blogs. As a member of the US Soccer Fan Council, her trip to watch a US Men's National Team match in the UK was featured on US Soccer's YouTube Channel. She also attended the 2018 World Cup in Russia, as well as 2019 in France and, most recently 2023 in New Zealand and Australia. Jessica's travels have given her a unique outlook on gameday experiences, and she shares her insight on this podcast. She shares poignant observations about soccer's need to be more inclusive and the bureaucratic challenges that women's soccer has faced despite fantastic on-field performances. Viewers of this episode may leave with a new perspective on their own gameday experiences and thoughts about how the beautiful game can change to become a better home for everyone who loves it. You can learn more about Jessica and follow her travels on her Instagram: Instagram @SoccerSabbatical Find out more about our Transform Soccer programs here: Website Instagram LinkedIn