Matuidi & Gibbs Podcast | The Vision Behind One FC Academy

One FC, the youth soccer academy with locations in Miami, Houston and Boston, has just released a new podcast with its co-founders Blaise Matuidi and Kieran Gibbs. In this honest and open conversation, the two former international players talk about their years in youth academies, their journeys to the top of European football, and the vision behind One FC. Their goal is simple: to change the way young players are developed in the United States.

The full episode is now available on YouTube. It is a must-watch for any parent, player or coach who wants to understand the philosophy behind one of the most ambitious youth soccer academies in America.

▶️ Watch the full podcast here: https://youtu.be/jmDlcg-8W2A

From Youth Academies to the Biggest Stages in Football

The two co-founders take viewers behind the scenes of what shaped them long before the trophies.

Blaise Matuidi, who lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup with France, looks back on his path from the youth ranks of French football all the way to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), where he won five Ligue 1 titles, and Juventus, where he added three Serie A trophies to his career. He also talks about his time at Inter Miami CF, where he ended his career next to David Beckham's project and saw firsthand how much soccer is growing in the United States.

Kieran Gibbs, who earned 10 caps with England, opens up about his early years at Arsenal's famous Hale End academy, the pressure of making it into the Premier League first team, and how more than 300 professional games with Arsenal, West Bromwich Albion and Inter Miami CF taught him what young players really need to succeed.

Together, they share something you rarely hear in public: an honest look at what life is really like inside top European academies like PSG, Arsenal and Juventus. The good moments, the tough ones, and the lessons that no book can teach.

Why a World Cup Winner Chose to Build a Youth Academy in the USA

The conversation then moves to the heart of the project: why a FIFA World Cup champion and a Premier League veteran decided to build a youth soccer academy in the United States.

Matuidi and Gibbs explain that One FC was created to fill a real gap in American youth soccer. The idea was to bring European training standards, a professional method, and a player first culture to families across the country. Their goal is not just to win games. It is to change the way young players are trained in the U.S., with a long term vision focused on technique, game intelligence, character and discipline.

That mission now lives in three growing academies:

One FC Miami, the original academy and home of the project in Florida
One FC Houston, growing fast in Texas with top level training
One FC Boston, the newest academy launching in Massachusetts in 2026

Founders Who Are Truly Involved in Miami, Houston and Boston

One of the strongest moments of the podcast is when the founders talk about how involved they really are in the daily life of the academy.

Matuidi and Gibbs are not just names on a logo. They are on the field at One FC Miami, Houston and Boston, meeting players, supporting coaches and helping shape the One FC method with the technical staff. This real involvement is one of the main reasons families across the country are choosing One FC for their child's soccer journey.

This commitment has helped the club reach important milestones, including:

Academies in Miami, Houston and Boston, with more growth across the country
Acceptance into the MLS NEXT Homegrown Division for the 2026/2027 season
A growing reputation as one of the most exciting places to develop as a young player in the United States

A Must-Watch Podcast for Soccer Families in Miami, Houston, Boston and Beyond

Whether you are a parent in Miami looking for a serious soccer academy, a young player in Houston dreaming of going pro, or a family in Boston discovering One FC for the first time, this podcast gives you a rare and honest look from two of the most successful footballers of their generation. A World Cup champion and a Premier League veteran, both fully committed to American youth soccer.

It also shows what makes One FC different: a club built by players, for players, with a vision based on the real life of professional football at PSG, Juventus, Arsenal and beyond.

▶️ Watch the full podcast on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jmDlcg-8W2A

Don't forget to like, subscribe and share to support the One FC channel and help spread the message of player first development in Miami, Houston, Boston and across the rest of the United States.