Hosted by Luis Omar Tapia and Gio Del Fa, 6-Episode Season Profiles Most Inspiring Players Twice Weekly, Beginning June 2, in English and Spanish
Subscribe to Season 7 of the Award-Winning ‘My New Favorite’ Franchise and Watch the Trailer Here
NEW YORK – May 27, 2026 – NBCUniversal Local today announced its award-winning multiplatform podcast series My New Favorite Futbolista will return this June to profile the most inspiring stars competing in the FIFA World Cup 2026™, which kicks off in North America on June 11.
The six-part season is hosted by legendary broadcaster Luis Omar Tapia – a lead play-by-play announcer for Telemundo’s exclusive Spanish-language coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ – and NBC6 South Florida / Telemundo 51 Miami sports reporter Gio Del Fa, who will also be covering the tournament for Telemundo.
“My New Favorite Futbolista is much more than a soccer series, it’s a celebration of perseverance, identity, and the powerful human stories behind the game,” said Luis Omar Tapia. “It’s an honor to share these journeys with audiences and give fans the best way to get ready for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ – in both English and Spanish.”
My New Favorite Futbolista deliversanin-depth look at the personalities, passions and journeys driving the most compelling soccer stars across North America. The new season features inspiring personal stories from standout athletes helping shape the sport and inspire the next generation.
“This series gives viewers a unique and deeply personal perspective on some of the sport’s most compelling voices and experiences,” said Gio Del Fa. “We’re proud to partner with Telemundo Deportes to deliver stories that connect with audiences in an authentic and meaningful way, both on and off the field.”
My New Favorite Futbolista willpublish new English- and Spanish-language episodes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 2 to 18. The series will be available on all major podcast platforms, and video content from the series will be presented across TV, streaming and digital platforms, including Peacock. Audiences can watch the new season trailer here and subscribe here.
My New Favorite Futbolista Episodes:
Episode 1 – June 2 – Tim Ream: Even soccer stars struggle with mental health
- U.S. defender Tim Ream, who started struggling with mental wellness at a young age, has made it his mission to speak to young people to promote mental health awareness.
Episode 2 – June 4 – Dayne St. Clair: Why mentorship is important to me
- Team Canada goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair, who credits mentorship for propelling his soccer journey, is now paying it forward.
Episode 3 – June 9 – Cristian Roldan: Why I play for Team USA
- U.S. midfielder Cristian Roldan, the son of a Salvadoran mother and a Guatemalan father, is giving back to the diverse community that raised him in Pico Rivera, California.
Episode 4 – June 11 – Ricardo Pepi: The most important thing in my life
- U.S. striker Ricardo Pepi relies on the support of his family no matter where in the world he is playing
Episode 5 – June 16 – Tyler Adams: A mini-idea to grow and diversify soccer
- U.S midfielder Tyler Adams is opening mini soccer pitches across the country to increase access to the sport, especially for underserved communities.
Episode 6 – June 18 – Tim Weah: Soccer’s king of Queens
- U.S. forward Timothy Weah, who has played soccer all over the world, opens up about how growing up in a diverse neighborhood in Queens, New York, shaped his identity
This is the seventh season of the My New Favorite franchise, which since 2021 has featured Olympic athletes as My New Favorite Olympian, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ and FIFA Men’s World Cup 2022™ as My New Favorite Futbolista. Previous Olympic installments have profiled athletes surrounding the Milan-Cortina 2026™ and Beijing 2022 Winter Games™ and the Paris 2024™ and Tokyo 2020™ Summer Games.
My New Favorite Futbolista was led by soccer stars Janelly Farías and Meghan Klingenberg in 2023 and Juan Pablo Ángel in 2022. My New Favorite Futbolista covering the FIFA Women’s World Cup earned a 2024 Digiday Video & TV Award for ‘Best Video Podcast’ and a 2024 Cynopsis Sports Media Award for ‘Best Spoken Word Series.’ The FIFA Men’s World Cup edition won a 2023 Cynopsis Sports Media Award, earned bronze at the Signal Awards, and was a finalist for ‘Best Soccer Podcast’ at the 2023 Sports Podcast Awards.
The most recent My New Favorite Olympian, covering Milan-Cortina earlier this year, was co-hosted by Olympic figure skating medalist and media figure Adam Rippon. A seven-part Paris 2024™ series was led by 12-time Olympic medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin. Olympic legend Apolo Ohno (Beijing 2022™) and Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad (Tokyo 2020™) served as hosts for the first two seasons.
The Milan-Cortina edition of My New Favorite Olympian is a finalist in the ‘Sports Podcast of the Year’ category at the upcoming Cynopsis Sports Media Awards. Last year, My New Favorite Olympian was named ‘Best Olympics & Paralympics Podcast’ at the Sports Podcast Awards and won ‘Best Spoken Word Series’ at the Cynopsis Sports Media Awards. The series also won two Signal Awards for its Beijing 2022™ season and was named ’Best Podcast Series’ at the 2022 Cynopsis Sports Media Awards.
As the exclusive Spanish-language home of FIFA World Cup 2026™, from June 11 to July 19, Telemundo will broadcast all 104 matches live—92 on Telemundo and 12 on Universo—with every match streaming live on Peacock and the Telemundo app. Coverage will originate from across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, featuring on-site talent, in-depth reporting and dynamic studio shows.
ABOUT NBCUNIVERSAL LOCAL
NBCUniversal Local, part of NBCUniversal News Group, is comprised of more than 50 media properties, including local TV stations and regional sports networks that deliver English and Spanish-speaking audiences in 30 U.S. markets and Puerto Rico comprehensive news, weather, consumer and investigative reporting, lifestyle and entertainment content, and live sports across TV, streaming and digital platforms. NBCUniversal Local consists of three media groups – NBC Owned Television Stations, NBC Sports Regional Networks and Telemundo Station Group – plus multicast networks COZI TV, TeleXitos and NBC True CRMZ, and 18 free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels – including 11 NBC local news, five Telemundo regional news channels, Telemundo Puerto Rico and NBC LX Home. NBCUniversal Local also features NBC Spot On, an advanced CTV and OTT advertising platform; LXTV Productions; marketing and promotions company Skycastle; out-of-home business NBC Everywhere; and The Arthouse, a graphic design group.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Rob Lemus
Robert.Lemus@nbcuni.com
