In a world where most dare to dream, few have the courage to shatter every barrier along the way. In just one year, Soheil Var transformed adversity into opportunity, crafting a professional football club from scratch in Dubai. This is not merely an interview—it’s a raw, unfiltered journey into the heart of ambition, resilience, and groundbreaking success.
Discover what it truly takes to redefine the game, both on and off the pitch, in a story that challenges the limits of what’s possible.
Your Journey Begins:
For those who don’t know you yet, who are you and why are you making such an impact in the world of sports?
My name is Soheil Var and I’m the founder of Al Qabila FC, a professional football club in Dubai that was built in only 365 days. On top of that, I have a unique blend of roles as a business owner, footballer, and influencer with over 2 million followers and more than half a billion views. The biggest impact has come as a result of sharing the true journey of what it takes to become a professional footballer.
Sharing both the reality of the lows and the experiences that did not go my way, as well as my successes, has allowed me to build a community that can follow the genuine journey and its difficulties through an online lens. The impact of the 365+ days to signing a professional football contract, as well as 365 days to creating a football club from scratch, has been immense, as these things have never been done.
Documenting the journey and sharing it with the fans has allowed them to be immersed and understand how to overcome hurdles in their personal and professional lives—whether those hurdles are daily challenges or football-related difficulties.
Having experienced the highs and lows of professional football, which moments or lessons have been the most defining in shaping you as both a player and a leader?
There have been many moments that have shaped my identity as a player as well as a leader. One of the lowest moments that also motivated me was when I was released from my university soccer team the day before the season started. The coach brought me into his office along with the assistant coach and broke the news to me.
This served as a stepping stone to starting the journey toward signing a professional football contract in 365 days. Having an online presence and a large community following has allowed me to grow as a leader.
Throughout the numerous challenges I faced on my path to going pro, I was able to grow and share my experiences with those tuning in. This has motivated both me and the community to continue striving for our goals, as failure is a requirement for achieving ultimate success.
Building Al Qabila FC in 365 Days:
Creating a football club from scratch in just 365 days is a monumental feat. Can you walk us through the challenges and triumphs you encountered during this journey?
There have been many challenges, from operational requirements to financial hurdles. One of the biggest obstacles was the operational challenges associated with running a football club. On a day-to-day basis, issues arise that are both time-sensitive and require immediate attention.
Running around and ensuring that operational requirements are met remains one of the biggest daily tasks. In terms of triumphs, my business partner Dan and I celebrated each time a new aspect of the club’s identity was formed—from the club colours to the logo to the kit. We celebrated these milestones with the fans and ensured that they could contribute their opinions at every step of the club’s development.
Reflecting on your rollercoaster career, what has been the biggest high so far—a moment that stands out as the pinnacle of your achievements?
The highest high would have to be our first win as a team. The realization that we had built a football club from scratch in 365 days—and then won a game—was unreal. That achievement was massive, as it summarized all the hard work of the previous months and the effort required to bring the club into existence.
Words of Wisdom for Aspiring Footballers:
What advice would you offer to footballers striving to make it to the professional level?
The best advice I can give is to develop and grow your mind every single day. Mindset has been the biggest factor for me and should be a consistent daily practice. Alongside that, learn about what it really takes to reach the pro level, and then accurately execute those action steps. Learn from mentors—people who have already accomplished what you want to achieve. You can find excellent educators on platforms like YouTube, accessible from anywhere in the world.
The Value of Networks:
How integral have networks and relationships been in your career, and what role have they played in your success?
Having a strong network is absolutely critical to success. Outside of football, a strong network and relationships can open up numerous opportunities.
The more people you know, the more well-versed you will be in the various avenues you may pursue in the future.
In today’s society, having a strong online presence and personal profile plays a major role in developing your network and relationships. At every new city or event I visited, my biggest goal was to step outside of my comfort zone and connect with as many people as possible. The bigger and better your network, the bigger and better your life.
Partnership with Sheikh Ahmed Bin Sultan Bin Khalifa Al Nahyan:
What does this partnership mean to you and your club?
The partnership with his Highness, Sheikh Ahmed, has been a pleasure and has opened up many opportunities for the club. On a personal level, having someone of such high status believe in our vision gives us full trust in the path forward and the next steps for Al Qabila FC’s future. Professionally, his Highness has opened up opportunities that we would not have been able to pursue otherwise. His ability to connect us with key figures and partners allowed us to create the club in 365 days and opened up numerous doors during our inaugural season.
The Pursuit of Promotion:
As you continue the ambitious pursuit of promotion, what strategies are you implementing both on and off the field to achieve this goal?
The key to promotion is the overall mindset and work ethic we instill in our players and staff. On the pitch, our players and staff adapt to hurdles that arise during a match—starting in training and continuing into the league games. If we concede or face an uphill battle during a match, our mindset helps alleviate frustration and allows our players to focus on overcoming the deficit. Off the pitch, this approach enables players to be at their best and prevents the inevitable challenges of playing football while juggling other responsibilities from hindering our ultimate goal of promotion.
Sponsors and Partners:
Who are your key sponsors and partners, and how are they contributing to the ongoing success of Al Qabila FC?
We have been fortunate to work with numerous partners during our first year. One of our valued partners is Jerseybird, which collaborated on the creation and development of our jersey. They also helped provide the team with training gear, as well as athletic wear for use outside of league games and training sessions. Jerseybird, along with our other valued partners, allows us to continue to build our vision and support our players on a daily basis, as well as create a fundamental structure for the club that facilitates operations during its first year in the UAE Football system.
Looking Ahead: The Future for You and Al Qabila FC:
What’s next for you and Al Qabila FC? Can you share your vision for the future, both for yourself and for the club?
The long-term vision for the club is to expand and offer more opportunities to players around the world, from youth programs to international opportunities. We want to allow as many footballers as possible to be part of Al Qabila FC’s future.
Our number one goal is promotion. Following that, we have more long-term goals as we move up the UAE FA system and strive to eventually become a club in the ADNOC Pro League.
Personally, I look forward to continuing to inspire and assist athletes and footballers around the world, as well as giving back to the community in any way I can. Step by step, the goal is to execute the vision of creating multidimensional athletes—a vision inspired by my own football journey. I want to create a new generation of multidimensional athletes: winners both on and off the pitch.
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