How It Started, and Where We’re Headed: The Story Behind Nordic Soccer Club

It all started back in COVID, when I—Andreas—realized that the acting industry wasn't for me, and I was missing something.

Before moving to the U.S., I had worked in the Swedish school system as a substitute teacher. They wouldn't allow me to get a full-time position because I didn't have a degree within the field. But honestly, that was the best thing that could have happened, because I got to travel around a lot and work with every age group—from preschool to middle school. I taught everything from PE to English to Swedish classes. I saw thousands of different kids over the years, which trained me to work with a wide range of personalities and characters—and I loved it.

That gave me a huge head start when I decided I wanted to teach soccer, which has been my passion my entire life. And it just clicked right away.

At first, I didn’t even have to put that much effort into it. I was kind of happy having my 200 kids for years and just doing that. But over time, we grew slowly. Then when Teddie—my co-founder whose vision, relationships, and tireless drive helped us forge deep partnerships with local schools—joined forces with me again, everything truly exploded in both participants and momentum.

The rec league we created, built from the schools we already worked with, sparked a flame in me. It brought back a competitive energy I had missed from my own childhood.

In Europe, where I'm from, playing club soccer was something everybody did. There was no separation between recreational and club—it was all just soccer. But here in the U.S., “club” has a different tone. I’ve heard a lot of negativity around it—too intense, too much pressure for the kids. It feels like it can ruin the love for the game.

The U.S. is not a world leader in soccer, and the pay-to-play model here, the way it pushes parents into chasing the “college dream” as the ultimate goal—it just never sat right with me. And that’s why, for the longest time, I didn’t want to associate Nordic Soccer with the club scene at all.

That said, I’ve missed this competitive flame. And I’ve realized it doesn’t have to be that way. We don’t have to become the bad apples. Yes, there are a lot of problems in the club world—but we can be different. We can be the ones who stand for integrity, who teach the kids the right things, who don’t pressure them or make it all about winning. We let kids be kids and enjoy it.

At the same time, I know there are kids out there—our kids—who eat, breathe, and sleep soccer. Kids who want to play all the time. We need to give them an outlet. We need to challenge them and let them grow. And we want to teach them under our wing—our way.

That’s why I’m incredibly excited to step into the club sphere this season.

One thing I love about the club environment is that it creates a deeper bond—not just between players, but between the kids and their parents too. You go to away games together. You stop at a fast-food place on the way back. You eat together as a team after a match. You go to a tournament and make memories that stick with you forever. There’s real value in that.

And now, I’ve realized it’s time to step into that realm and compete with the big boys—but do it right.

We’re not walking away from who we are or what we’ve built. If anything, we’re doubling down on it. We’re proud of the reputation Nordic Soccer has developed, and we’re going to maintain it. This Club program will not replace any of our current programs. It’s simply another outlet for the kids who want more—who need more.

All of our Club coaches will have played at a high level themselves. But that’s not the only qualification that matters. The most important thing to us is character. Good humans. Good role models. People who teach kids not just how to win—but how to treat one another.

We’re not here to become one of those clubs where the coach with the highest license is automatically the best one. We’re taking a wider view. What makes someone great for these kids isn’t just what they know—it’s who they are.

Club soccer will be the perfect next step for us. It’s for the kids who truly love the game and want more of it. We want to help them grow the right way. We want to challenge them in a healthy way. We want to give them the chance to compete against the best players in the region and learn from that.

And we want people to understand: winning isn’t the most important thing. Not at this age.

Look at Belgium. They didn’t count youth results for years. They focused entirely on development—and they created the golden generation: Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, and more. Winning young doesn’t mean anything. Developing young is everything.

You’ll win some. You’ll lose some. But if you’re learning and being taught the right things—that’s the win.

Ocean's of gratitude

Andreas.