Today we’d like to introduce you to Karol Arambula.
Hi Karol, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in East Los Angeles and started playing soccer when I was 12 years old. Soccer had always been a part of my life because of my older brother, the founder of bola. Growing up, I watched him build a community through street soccer and create opportunities for people who were often overlooked.
When I entered high school, I dreamed of playing for my school’s respected soccer program. But injuries and a lack of confidence made it difficult to enjoy the game. Everything changed when I started attending bola’s free weekly street soccer pickups in Long Beach.
For the first time, soccer felt different.
There were no coaches judging you, no pressure to perform, and no expectations to live up to. Street soccer was about creativity, self-expression, and community. It felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I wasn’t playing to prove anything anymore I was playing because I loved it.
As I spent more time around the bola team, I became inspired by what they represented. They weren’t professional athletes. They were people who had been given opportunities through the game they loved. Through bola, they traveled, participated in major events, appeared in commercials, and represented their communities on bigger stages. What made bola special wasn’t soccer it was opportunity.
That was my brother’s vision.
He believed that talent exists everywhere, but opportunities don’t. bola was created to give chances to people who might never have received them otherwise.
In 2023, my brother passed away.
At 18 years old, I felt lost. For a while, I didn’t even want to play soccer anymore. But with the support of my family and friends, I found my way back to the game. I continued competing, played UPSL Division One, and eventually earned an opportunity to attend a trial in Spain. I spent months saving nearly $3,000 for the trip.
Then I was faced with a decision that changed my life.
Around the same time, the International Street Football Association (ISFA) was preparing for their first Street Soccer World Cup, bringing together more than 30 countries from around the world. They approached me with an opportunity to lead the United States qualifier and help build the team that would represent the country on the world stage.
I could pursue my own dream in Spain.
Or I could continue the work my brother had dedicated his life to.
I chose bola.
Despite having no experience running a company or managing an event of that scale, I accepted the challenge. Together with friends, family, the bola community, and mentors who had supported my brother for years, we organized the national qualifier and assembled Team USA.
Months later, I stood in Riga, Latvia, watching that team compete against some of the best street soccer players in the world.
They finished third.
What started as a responsibility became a purpose.
Today, I continue leading bola not because I have all the answers, but because I believe in the mission my brother started. With the support of my family, the bola team, and mentors like Edward van Gils, I am committed to creating opportunities for the next generation of players who deserve to be seen.
bola was founded on the belief that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.
Our goal is to change that.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
Growing up, one of my biggest struggles was confidence. I started playing soccer later than a lot of other players, and throughout my youth I dealt with injuries that made it difficult to stay consistent. There were times when I questioned whether I was good enough and whether I even belonged on the field.
The biggest challenge came in 2023 when my brother, the founder of bola, passed away. Losing him was devastating, both personally and professionally. He wasn’t just my brother he was my role model and the reason I fell in love with street soccer in the first place. For a while, I didn’t even want to play soccer anymore.
At the same time, I found myself in a position where I had to make some major decisions about my future. I had the opportunity to pursue a soccer trial in Spain, something I had worked and saved for, but I was also being asked to help lead projects that would continue the work my brother had started through bola and the street soccer community.
One of the hardest parts was stepping into responsibilities I wasn’t necessarily prepared for. I was young, had no experience running a company, organizing large-scale events, or leading national projects. There were a lot of moments where I had to learn as I went and rely on the support of family, friends, and mentors.
Looking back, those challenges taught me a lot about resilience. They forced me to grow quickly and helped me realize that bola was always about more than soccer. It’s about creating opportunities, building community, and giving people a chance to be seen. That’s what continues to motivate me today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the owner and operator of bola, a street soccer brand, team, and community platform focused on creating opportunities through the game. We organize street soccer events, tournaments, brand activations, community pickups, and international competitions while also competing as a team in tournaments at both the local and international level, working with athletes, creators, and major brands to help grow the sport and culture of street soccer.
What I specialize in is bringing people together through authentic experiences. Whether it’s a local pickup in a parking lot, a national qualifier, or an international tournament, my goal is always the same: to create opportunities for talented players who may not have access to traditional pathways or the connections that often open doors in sports.
Over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work alongside brands like Nike and Adidas, help organize the United States qualification process for the Street Soccer World Cup, and contribute to the growth of street soccer both nationally and internationally. More recently, bola has become a partner of Adidas for the Street Soccer World Cup, which is something I’m incredibly proud of.
However, what I’m most proud of isn’t a partnership or an event. It’s continuing the mission my brother started and seeing the impact it has on people’s lives. Some of the players we’ve worked with have gone on to travel internationally, participate in major campaigns, compete on world stages, and experience opportunities they never imagined possible. Seeing that happen is the most rewarding part of what we do.
What sets bola apart is that we’re built by the streets and for the streets. We understand what it’s like to be overlooked, to not have the right connections, or to feel like there isn’t a place for you in the traditional soccer system. Because of that, we focus on creating an environment where creativity, self-expression, and opportunity come first.
At the end of the day, we’re not just building events or tournaments we’re building a platform that helps people be seen. That’s what bola has always stood for, and that’s what continues to drive me every day.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I’ve been fortunate to have a strong support system and mentors throughout my journey. One thing I’ve learned is that finding a mentor usually starts with being willing to step outside of your comfort zone. For me, asking for help has never come naturally, but some of the biggest opportunities and relationships in my life came from simply reaching out, asking questions, and being open to learning from others.
When it comes to networking, I think people sometimes overcomplicate it. The best networking happens when you’re genuinely interested in other people and focused on building real relationships rather than looking for immediate opportunities. Show up consistently, be willing to help when you can, and don’t be afraid to start conversations with people who inspire you.
What has worked best for me is putting myself in environments where I can learn and grow. Whether that’s attending events, working on projects, traveling, or collaborating with others, every experience creates an opportunity to meet people and learn something new. Most importantly, be coachable. The people who have had the biggest impact on my life were willing to invest their time and knowledge because they saw that I was willing to listen, learn, and put in the work.
Looking back, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the mentors, friends, teammates, and supporters who believed in me. Their guidance has shaped not only my career, but also who I am as a person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bola.la
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bolabrandofficial?utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@bolabrandofficial?si=ns8pobDMjvLKaygs
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bolabrandofficial?_r=1&_t=ZP-96vQsgQAEgh
