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Felipe Silva (‘23) has always had soccer in his blood. Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the sport was more than just a game—it was a way of life. His dream, like many young athletes, was to become a professional player. But life had other plans, and while his path didn’t lead him to a playing career, it took him somewhere just as meaningful: the world of sports journalism.
Felipe’s journey brought him to Lincoln Trail College, where he played soccer while pursuing his education. The transition to life in the United States came with its challenges, particularly adjusting to a new language and culture. But LTC became a home away from home.
“Lincoln Trail College played a fundamental role in my journey,” Felipe says. “I grew so much as a person and professionally while I was there. The staff was incredibly kind and made me feel comfortable speaking English, even when I wasn’t fully confident. They truly made me feel at home.”
It wasn’t just the welcoming environment that made an impact on Felipe—it was also the opportunities he found. While at LTC, he worked in the college’s Marketing Department, where he gained valuable skills in media, storytelling, and content creation.
“I started working in the Marketing Department, and that experience was key for me,” he explains. “It gave me a foundation in writing, social media, and communication that I still use today in my work with Território MLS.”
Covering Major League Soccer
Felipe’s passion for soccer never faded, and after graduating from LTC, he found a new way to stay connected to the sport—this time from behind the scenes. He reached out to Território MLS, a media outlet covering Major League Soccer for a Brazilian audience, pitching himself as a correspondent.
“I had been following Território MLS for a while, and I realized that, since I was already living in the U.S. and knew the league, I could contribute,” Felipe says. “I sent them a message explaining who I was, my experience, and how I could be a good asset to them. They responded, and we started from there.”
Now, Felipe is a correspondent covering MLS teams in the Midwest, including Saint Louis City SC, Minnesota United FC, Columbus Crew, FC Cincinnati, and Sporting Kansas City. His work involves gathering news, writing reports and articles, and creating content for Território MLS’s website and Instagram.
“Soccer has been a huge part of my life, and being able to write about it, especially for people back home in Brazil, means so much to me,” he says. “Not being able to accomplish my dream of playing professionally was hard, but journalism gave a new meaning to the sport I love. It’s brought back the joy I felt as a kid, and it’s shown me how much I can achieve.”
Expanding His Reach
Felipe isn’t stopping at written journalism. As he works toward finishing his bachelor’s degree, he’s taking every opportunity to grow his experience in sports media. Last year, he was invited to join Bola em Jogo, a popular soccer talk show on Brazil’s Radio Tupi, a station that has been on the air since 1934.
“It was an incredible experience,” Felipe says. “I got to share the table with Gerson, also known as Canhotinha de Ouro, who won the World Cup for Brazil and played alongside Pelé. We talked for three hours about the biggest soccer stories of the week, the Brazilian national team, and the top clubs from Rio de Janeiro.”
Felipe is also developing a new broadcasting project with his university’s marketing department. His goal is to enhance the quality of sports coverage by bringing in expert commentators, conducting pre- and post-game interviews, and creating social media content to recap the athletic week.
“We’re working on making game broadcasts more engaging,” he explains. “We want to give audiences more insight, more analysis, and more personality. It’s another way for me to build my skills and expand my career in sports media.”
The Future
Looking ahead, Felipe has big ambitions. His dream is to one day cover the world’s most prestigious soccer tournaments—the FIFA World Cup, Copa Libertadores, and the UEFA Champions League. His ultimate goal? A role with a major international broadcaster like ESPN.
“My dream is to reach thousands—maybe even millions—of people with my analysis and views about football,” Felipe says. “I want to be on the biggest stages, covering the most important tournaments in the world.”
As he works toward that goal, he remains deeply grateful for the foundation Lincoln Trail College gave him.
“I always try to express how thankful I am for the opportunities LTC and Chris [Forde, Lincoln Trail College Coordinator of Marketing and Communications and Illinois Eastern Community Colleges Director of Marketing and Communications] gave me,” Felipe says. “The environment at LTC is truly special, especially for international students. It gave me the support and confidence I needed to get to where I am today.”
