In Episode 4 of Heart of the Game, we go on location to Global Football Innovation Academy in The Woodlands, Texas for an in person conversation with Academy Director Gareth Glick.

Gareth shares his journey from growing up in Leeds, England to moving to the United States as a teenager, and reflects on the growth of American soccer since the 1994 World Cup. We discuss why Houston is an overlooked football hotbed and what the 2026 World Cup could mean for the city and its communities.

He takes us inside GFI’s rapid rise to more than 2,500 players in under three years across multiple Houston area locations, and breaks down the pathway from recreational soccer to competitive teams, high performance environments, and MLS NEXT.

We also talk about building true community through diversity, how Gareth’s background in teaching shapes his coaching philosophy, and how innovation, data, and the SciSports partnership support long term player development. We close with Gareth’s favorite football memories and a Dutch football trivia segment.

If you're interested in hearing more from the Heart of the Game podcast then make sure to give us a follow, as we're on a journey to recognize the true beating heart of football: the people who give everything to the game, both on and off the pitch.

If you'd like to learn more about those behind the Heart of the Game podcast then you can check us out further on the SciSports website.