The World Cup starts Thursday and it may seem like there’s an overwhelming amount of news around it locally, nationally and internationally.
And because about half of U.S. adults get their news from social media, according to a 2025 Pew study, we thought we’d provide a guide of who to follow for all things soccer.
So, here’s a Q&A with four influencers to follow ahead of the World Cup.
Ashley Niveth
Name: Ashley Niveth
Instagram: @ashley.niveth
Where’s home?
East LA
What’s your soccer story?
Niveth grew up a soccer fan.
“My dad, I kid you not, would go to work, come home, there was soccer. I’d come from school, there was soccer. We’d be eating, there was soccer,” Niveth said about how she became a Club America fan like her father.
Claim to fame:
The content creator from East LA learned how to play soccer once she started making content.
She went viral after posting a TikTok about her favorite team, Club America, and got invited to a Lionel Messi event as a tournament soccer player shortly after.
“Turns out, I was the only one there who had never played soccer before,” Niveth said laughing.
She made friends with professional and former professional soccer players, and other content creators who invited her to make social media content with them.
Why should people come to you for soccer news during the World Cup?
Aside from interviewing professional soccer players, Niveth enjoys talking to their supporters.
“A lot of my content is interviewing fans, interviewing real people,” she said.
Who’s your team?
Los Angeles FC
Who are you rooting for in the World Cup?
Mexico
Giovanni Garcia
Name: Giovanni Garcia
Instagram: @giogarciala
Where’s home? Originally from LA, Garcia grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. He is now back in LA.
What’s your soccer story?
Garcia grew up playing soccer.
“Long story short, I thought I was gonna go pro like how every other Latino kid thinks they’re gonna go pro,” he said.
Garcia took a corporate job when he stopped playing in college. Content creation kept him involved with the sport and deepened his interest in the culture.
Claim to fame:
A couple of Garcia’s videos went viral on YouTube and he started creating content seriously. He managed brand pages before switching full-time to producing his own content.
Why should people come to you for soccer news during the World Cup?
Garcia will attend the Mexico vs. South Africa match in Mexico city on June 11, where he’ll talk to some of the athletes and fans.
“I’ll hit you with a funny fan interview but at the same time I can do a branded piece where I educate you on this Latino player,” he said about his content.
Garcia explained that he enjoys entertaining and teaching his followers about soccer, and hopes to convey that in his World Cup coverage.
Who’s your team?
Los Angeles FC
Who are you rooting for in the World Cup?
Mexico
Monica Velasquez
Name: Monica Velasquez
Instagram: @monicavelasquez_17
Where’s home?
Velasquez is from Guatemala and now lives in LA.
What’s your soccer story?
Velasquez loves soccer. She started playing the sport at 10 years old.
“Soccer is something I’ve always been very passionate about,” she said.
Claim to fame:
One of Velasquez’s posts joking around about her team, FC Barcelona, beating Real Madrid in El Clasico went viral, and she’s been posting soccer content ever since.
Why should people come to you for soccer news during the World Cup?
Velasquez will experience the World Cup in person for the first time and she wants to invite her followers to go with her.
“Just being at any game at the World Cup, it’s a dream already,” Velasquez said.
Who’s your team?
FC Barcelona
Who are you rooting for in the World Cup?
Argentina
Leo Hernandez
Name: Leo Hernandez
Instagram: @elsoccerguy_
Where’s home?
Orange County
What’s your soccer story?
Hernandez has been a soccer fan since he was 8 years old and started playing in middle school. He loves talking about the sport, its jerseys and stadiums.
Claim to fame:
“One video went viral and it was me making fun of the Mexico national team because they lost,” Hernandez said, adding that he didn’t want to insult the team. “During that time Mexico was doing really bad.”
He explained that people were so quick to like, comment and judge which drove his video to a million views. And he’s been content creating ever since.
Why should people come to you for soccer news during the World Cup?
Hernandez will be in Mexico City for the tournament.
“I’m known for my short skits, my humorous stuff,” he said about his usual content that he plans to switch up for the event. “I’m really planning to do more interviews, more reactions. I’m just trying to get more in touch with the people that are gonna be in Mexico.”
Who’s your team?
Los Angeles FC
Who are you rooting for in the World Cup?
Mexico
