Queens, NYC Grit Meets Global Game: My Personal Soccer Revolution
&
Purpose, Passion & Positivity:
Megan Linke’s Story
This month’s newsletter is in two parts: first, my personal journey with the world’s game — how a Queens kid who didn’t play soccer grew to feel its global power. Then, a spotlight on Megan Linke: Soccer mom, style voice, and MLS Ambassador who turned heartbreak into purpose.
Let’s dive in.
I grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens — where the air smelled like five countries’ kitchens colliding and the sound of fútbol came blasting out of every cracked window, corner bodega, and pirated satellite dish. Soccer wasn’t my thing back then. Hell, I didn’t even know the rules. But I knew the vibe — the roars of celebration echoing down the block, the flags waving off fire escapes like victory banners, and grown men crying over a missed penalty like they just lost a kidney.
Most of the time I’d end up at a buddy’s family (Bolivian) restaurant during the big games. Didn’t matter if I knew who was playing — the whole place was shaking with energy. People weren’t just watching — they were living. That kind of fire? That kind of community? You don’t fake that.
Now, I wasn’t raised in some sports-obsessed household. My parents didn’t watch sports — period. Maybe they knew cricket existed, but that was about it. I was born and raised here, though — and like most kids in Queens, I grew up with American sports. Baseball, football, basketball — and yeah, handball on the blacktop was my jam. Soccer? That was the soundtrack of the neighborhood, but not the game I played.
In 2015, I moved to Ireland — total shift. I’d hit the pubs and see people lose their minds over teams I’d never even heard of. The energy was wild, infectious. Around that time, Messi and Ronaldo were everywhere — not just scoring, but dominating. Straight art in motion. Even as a New Yorker raised on handball and hoops, I couldn’t ignore it. Then I landed in Spain — Barcelona, Madrid — and it was next level. Game days felt like city-wide holidays. Chants echoing, beers flying, kids rocking Messi kits like uniforms. That was it. I was in.
But I’ve gotta rewind it real quick.
I did grow up in Jackson Heights — where you could eat your way through a continent without leaving the block. One minute it’s pan de bono, the next it’s biryani. But if you were really in the know, you made your way to Nuetsra Bolivia on Northern Blvd and got blessed by Abuela Norma’s salteñas. Still undefeated. No exaggeration.
Let me hit pause: if you’ve never had a salteña, fix your life. It’s a buttery Bolivian pastry stuffed with slow-cooked meat, potatoes, sweet heat, and dreams. Under the radar for years, but climbing the cult-food charts. You can even find them now in Sunnyside at Bolivian Llama Party — and trust me, they’re not playing around.
Back to the pitch — In hoods like mine, people didn’t grow up with silver spoons. They grew up with survival. Joy wasn’t handed out — it was earned. And in a neighborhood shaped by South American roots, soccer was the language. People played it in the park, on the pavement, in worn sneakers or no shoes at all. You didn’t need money or gear or a ref — just a wall and a ball. The game wasn’t a hobby. It was part of the culture.
Soccer’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves in the U.S.—and it’s wild to watch it unfold up close. From taking my first godchild to peewee league to now seeing her out there holding her own with the boys… Beastmode: ON.
Let’s Be Real: The World Cup’s Power Play
The world’s off. Egos are louder than empathy, headlines are noise, and unity feels like a lost cause. We scroll past war, injustice, and chaos like it’s just background static. Everyone’s yelling. No one’s listening. People are tired, jaded, and running on fumes.
But then, every four years, something wild happens: the World Cup shows up — and suddenly, billions of people stop what they’re doing to watch the same damn game.
And just like that, things shift. Borders blur. Flags rise. Rivals cheer side by side. Strangers talk to each other in bars. Street vendors sell out. Kids wear jerseys of countries they’ve never been to. For once, nobody cares about political sides or whose belief system is louder. It’s about the match. It’s about pride. It’s about joy.
This isn’t some soft, kumbaya moment — it’s proof that people can connect if we give them something real to gather around. A ball. A goal. A shared heartbeat. During the 2022 Cup, there were literal calls for ceasefires. Ceasefires. From something as simple as sport.
World leaders can’t manage that — but a soccer ball can?
That’s the kind of power we should be paying attention to. We’re talking about a sport with 5 billion viewers, 250 million players, and two of the most-followed humans on the planet leading the charge. That’s not hype — that’s influence most world leaders only dream of.
5 Fast Facts: When the World Cup Brought the World Together
🇺🇸 vs 🇮🇷, 1998 – Despite deep political tension, players exchanged flowers and posed for photos — reminding everyone that peace can kick off with small gestures.
🇩🇪 1954 – West Germany’s first Cup win helped restore post-WWII national pride and kickstart healing in a divided country.
🇿🇦 2010 – South Africa’s first Cup post-apartheid marked a turning point, with Mandela calling it a dream realized.
🇷🇸 1990 – Yugoslavia’s final united team before war split the region. One last peaceful display before decades of division.
🇭🇷 2018 – Croatia, with players born during wartime, made the final — showing the world how resilience gets rewritten.
The Game’s Global Weight — No Spin, Just Stats
• 🌍 The 2022 World Cup reached over 5 billion people worldwide
• 📺 The final (Argentina vs. France) drew 1.5 billion viewers
• ⚽ Over 250 million people across 200+ countries play the game
• 🕊️ UN officials have repeatedly called for World Cup ceasefires
• 👑 Messi + Ronaldo have over 1 billion followers combined — more than most world leaders
Purpose, Passion & Positivity:
Megan Linke’s Story
You hear “soccer mom” and probably picture someone safe, soft, suburban. Forget that. Megan Linke didn’t just flip the script — she lit it on fire.
Before the followers and podcast mics, Megan was grinding in medical device sales, playing the corporate game with grit. Then life came swinging. In just eight months, she lost her brother, her father, and her grandmother. That kind of loss shatters most people.
Megan? She stood up and started rebuilding from the wreckage.
Hustling mom. No excuses. No safety net. She launched a business from scratch, raised her son with everything she had, and stepped into the unknown with nothing but resilience and a refusal to quit. Her story isn’t polished. It’s powered by scars — and that’s what makes it hit harder.
In 2023, Apple tapped her as an MLS Season Pass Ambassador — because her voice moves people. Not just pretty posts and match-day selfies, but real substance. In 2025, she signed with HPA Talent, locking in her place as one of the most authentic and inspiring voices out there. Haute Living called her “the soccer mom everyone wants to know.” But let’s be clear — Megan didn’t ask for a seat at the table. She built her own damn platform.
For Megan, soccer isn’t just a game. It’s a lifeline — a connection to her son, a thread that ties her past pain to future power. Every match is more than a moment — it’s a reminder that joy can live alongside loss.
She didn’t wait for life to get easier. She got stronger. She didn’t follow a path. She forged one.
This isn’t just a comeback. It’s a mission. And Megan Linke is just getting started.
Here are some rapid-fire Q&As we did with Megan — straight from the heart. ⚡
1. Who are you, where are you from, and where are you now?
I’m a multifaceted influencer, soccer mom, and co-host of The Soccer Ladder. My content spans fashion, travel, vegan living, and motherhood — all anchored in positivity and resilience.
2. What values or experiences have most shaped you?
Motherhood — hands down. It’s taught me resilience and patience. Also, I’ve never waited for permission. If a lane doesn’t exist, I make one.
3. What kind of travel fills your soul — nature, cities, culture?
A mix! I love a big city buzz but crave mountain mornings too. Italy gives me all of it — beauty, food, energy.
4. Dream of living in Europe — where?
Italy. Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Amalfi… they all speak to me.
5. How has travel influenced your lifestyle — like veganism or wellness?
Travel made me more intentional. Plant-based food, slower meals, mindfulness — it all reset how I live.
6. Travel must-haves?
Under-eye patches, herbal tea, essential oils, and a reusable water bottle. And my morning latte ritual is non-negotiable.
7. What place brings out your best self?
Italy. Always Italy. It slows me down in the best way.
8. Go-to mindset when things get chaotic?
I say “grateful.” It shifts everything. I also look at the note on my desk: “Thank you, universe, for showing me what to do.”
Big thanks to Megan Linke for taking the time to answer our rapid-fire questions and for sharing her story with honesty, style, and serious strength.
If you want to follow her journey, tap in below:
📸 Instagram: @liandmeinnyc
🎙️ Podcast: The Soccer Ladder
📰 Featured in Haute Living: Read here
📣 Press: CBS News Feature
Her path proves what happens when passion meets persistence — and that the real wins come off the field.
