FOUNDERS

Merci Football Collective was founded in 2022 by two brothers, Nikolai and Sasha Karlov, who share the simple belief that football has the power to bring people together and unlock their God-given creativity.

But the vision behind Merci goes further back to our childhood and our European roots. Growing up in a big Russian family with nine children, soccer wasn’t just a hobby, it was the heartbeat of our home. Most afternoons followed the same rhythm: drop our school bags, run outside, and join a front-yard pickup game with siblings and neighbors of every age until the sun dipped below the trees. Sunday dinners and holidays at our grandparents’ house meant even bigger games—dozens of cousins, friends, and whoever else happened to be around—firing shots off the fence, chasing balls under parked cars, and battling for bragging rights. It was competitive, yes, but also simple, joyful, and endlessly creative. Those games forged family bonds and remain some of our most cherished memories.

We spent summers visiting family in Russia, where football is woven into everyday life. Pitches are everywhere, open and free. Just like our yard at home, local fields were always buzzing—kids playing, others watching, everyone welcome. No coaches barking orders, no parents pacing the sidelines, no drills or whistles. Just pure, spontaneous football. We’d jump into games with kids we’d never met and hardly shared a language with, yet within minutes we were part of the group—expected back the next day.

Look at the great footballing nations—France, Brazil, Argentina, the Netherlands, Spain—and you’ll find the same thread running through them all: small-sided, local pickup games are everywhere. Street football is the secret ingredient behind their success, nurturing generations of technically gifted, fearless, creative players.

At Merci Football, we recognize that small-sided football isn’t just a training tool—it’s a culture. It creates unstructured, social environments where players can experiment freely, express themselves, and feel part of something bigger. It builds community, grows confidence, and deepens a lifelong love for the game.

Our hope is to share that experience here, in our corner of the world—to create a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can connect, be creative, and fall in love with the game the same way we did. Through Merci, we aim to make a positive impact on soccer culture in America, one pickup game at a time.