Men in Blazers started in 2010 as a standalone podcast dedicated to talking about all things soccer, doing so at a time when soccer — and podcasts — were not as big as they are today.
It has since evolved into the Men in Blazers Media Network, a group with more than 20 shows and a multi-language platform covering all global aspects of the men’s and women’s soccer universe. It is the largest soccer-focused media company in North America.
In connection with the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Men in Blazers Media Network teamed up with VISA to launch Men in Blazers City Guides, a fan-powered travel companion for this summer and beyond, fueled by soccer-fan-curated recommendations and video reviews.
City Guides were built to offer the authentic, local soccer fan’s perspective in helping global traveling supporters discover where to eat, drink, watch and explore around the 13 cities across the U.S. and Canada, while driving visibility and commerce to local businesses during one of the world’s most anticipated sporting moments.
This week, the group revealed the restaurants in the area that its more than 25,000 fans gave the highest rating. Nearly a dozen of them are in New Jersey:
- Razza (Jersey City);
- White Manna (Hackensack);
- River Road Hot Bagels (Fair Lawn);
- Charrito’s (Weehawken);
- Annamaria’s Deli (East Rutherford);
- Redd’s Biergarten (Carlstadt);
- Blarney Station (East Rutherford);
- Mulligan’s Pub (Hoboken);
- Ferry Street (Newark – with recommendations of Brasilia Grill, Pegauss Sports and Casa d’Paco).
Men in Blazers Media Network Founder and CEO Roger Bennett said the City Guides bring together Visa’s commitment to small businesses and MiBMN’s deep connection to soccer fans, using fan insight and storytelling to turn match-day travel into meaningful, locally rooted experiences.
“The game of soccer lives far beyond the stadium,” he said. “When the whole world arrives on our shores this summer, we want travelers to truly feel and absorb the distinct and beautiful wonder of each host city. To do that, we wanted to take on the burden of sourcing the local favorites, so they can focus more on the joys of the experience and less on the planning of it. Working together with Visa allows us to elevate those local institutions and help supporters experience these cities through the lens of the people who know them best.”
