CNBC Sport

Landon Donovan sits down with Alex Sherman for a wide-ranging conversation on the 2026 World Cup, the business and visibility challenges facing Major League Soccer, and the personal realities behind elite performance—including depression, therapy, and the pressure to be “on” at all times.

Key topics covered

Why the 2026 World Cup could be a true “before and after” moment for American soccer (and why it could also be overhyped)

What a “successful” World Cup looks like for the USMNT: a deep run plus iconic moments that change public perception

How MLS stacks up against top European leagues—and what billionaire ownership could mean if spending and ambition rise

The MLS–Apple TV model: what worked, what limited reach, and why broader promotion still matters for a growing league

Donovan’s book motivations: moving beyond highlight-reel memoirs to talk honestly about depression, family, and identity

A candid look at depressive episodes, including a drug-induced crisis and how meditation helped him survive it

Youth soccer in the U.S.: “pay-to-play,” win-first culture, broken incentives—and Donovan’s stated mission to change it

Timestamps

10:26 — Why 2026 could reshape U.S. soccer, and a 1994 World Cup flashback

10:28 — What “success” looks like for the USMNT (deep run + iconic moments)

10:30 — MLS ownership, spending power, and what exposure to the World Cup can unlock

10:31 — MLS vs. Europe: where the league stands today

10:36 — The MLS–Apple TV deal and the challenge of reach vs. revenue

10:37 — Why Donovan wrote a book—and why mental health is central to it

10:43 — Depression, suicidal thoughts, and the role of therapy and meditation

10:47 — Retirement, ownership interest, and why youth soccer reform is his “next frontier”

 

Resources mentioned

Stream Major League Soccer on Apple TV

MLS viewing FAQ and details on watching matches

Lincoln City FC (club Donovan mentions investing in)

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Legendary Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim sits down with Alex Sherman a few days before March Madness to break down the realities of NIL, the transfer portal, and the shifting power structure in college basketball. Boeheim argues the sport has, in many ways, improved on the court—older rosters, more talent staying in school, and an influx of international players—but says meaningful regulation (contracts, salary caps, transfer limits) is still needed to prevent the system from spinning further out of control. 

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Tyler Reddick joins Alex Sherman to unpack a red-hot start to the NASCAR season—three straight wins—and what’s actually behind the momentum. Reddick explains how experience at specific tracks and lessons from previous near-misses helped him execute when it mattered, including reflecting on coming up just short in the Daytona 500 and using prior failures as motivation to close races out.

A big focus of the conversation is 23XI Racing’s leadership—and the reality of what it’s like to drive for an ownership group that includes Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Reddick shares a favorite Jordan moment that turned into real performance fuel, and he pushes back on the idea that Jordan is “just the money,” describing how both Jordan and Hamlin contribute leadership, perspective, and hands-on involvement (including Hamlin’s role in building out the team’s “Airspeed” facility).

They also zoom out to the business of NASCAR: what a winning streak can do for sponsorship conversations, why partner exposure matters as much as prize money, and how driver compensation can vary widely depending on contract structure (salary vs. winnings/purse-heavy deals). Reddick addresses whether any fallout lingered after 23XI’s lawsuit against NASCAR and the eventual settlement, and he explains why, from his seat, things stayed professional at the track and the relationship is moving forward.

Finally, Reddick weighs in on NASCAR’s current trajectory amid leadership changes and shifting motorsports attention, including the role of the Next Gen car and why tire strategy (and Goodyear’s changes) can significantly impact racing quality. The episode closes with a look at AI: while Reddick doesn’t use AI in-car, he says teams are exploring how AI might help them process overwhelming amounts of performance and race data more efficiently over time.

 01:30 Michael Jordan’s “jab” that motivated Reddick to improve on superspeedways

 03:05 How Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin actually lead at 23XI Racing

 05:13 23XI’s lawsuit vs. NASCAR, the settlement, and whether anything lingers

 06:44 Winning streak economics: sponsors, exposure, and new partnership interest

 08:06 How driver pay works: salary vs. winnings and contract structure

 09:33 NASCAR’s direction, leadership change, Next Gen car, and why tires matter

 11:21 AI in NASCAR: using AI to sort racing data (and why it’s still early)

 13:29 Phoenix sendoff and Michael Jordan’s leadership style

 

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CNBC’s Contessa Brewer speaks with Inter Miami CF Managing Owner Jorge Mas and Nu CEO Cristina Junqueira about their new stadium naming rights deal. They also discuss the business impact of Lionel Messi and the upcoming World Cup

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CNBC’s Alex Sherman talks with sports business professor Rick Horrow about the stadium building boom and what’s fueling it. Then, longtime ESPN host Chris Berman joins Sherman to break down ESPN’s evolution, its NFL ownership deal, and why Berman believes the Damar Hamlin incident may have impacted the league’s push for an 18th game.

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