MEET CIARÁN MCARDLE

Ciarán McArdle is living proof that soccer can lead to success. As the co-founder of XL Soccer World, he has built a thriving network of sports facilities that span from Florida to Maine, welcoming over 3 million visitors annually. His passion for soccer has not only driven his business ventures but also inspired his work as a Forbes-featured author and aspiring speaker. 

In 2001, he co-founded XL Soccer Tours, a company that specializing in taking teams on trips to many of the greatest facilities around the world. The company also schedules friendlies and provides tickets to live games. In 2007, he added a new business to the XL family: XL Soccer World, which now includes ten separate soccer facilities from Maine to Florida. The XL Soccer World facilities see more than three million visitors every year. His latest facility, located in Lake Nona, is a $20-million state-of-the-art venture, built from the ground up. In 2020, he also founded the XL Academy, a full-time, fully accredited school and soccer academy for young players who dream of going pro.

XL Soccer World was recently sold to SoFive, a City Football Group company—a mix of pain and triumph for Ciarán who is a lifelong and long-suffering Manchester United fan.