Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Dive into Italian Soccer Documentary

NEW YORK, NY — Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa, co-hosts of ABC‘s Live with Kelly and Mark, share their journey as part of the ownership group for the Italian soccer team Campobasso. Their story has been turned into a documentary series titled Running with the Wolves, set to debut on July 29.

Consuelos and Ripa purchased the distressed Campobasso in 2022, which has since risen to Serie C. The series captures both the excitement surrounding the team’s revival and personal moments in their lives, showcasing coaching changes and home renovations.

“I have deep ties to my Italian heritage. I grew up in Italy and loved soccer,” Consuelos said. “When someone approached me to invest in Campobasso, I knew I had to say yes.”

After the team faced financial difficulties, it dropped to the fifth division but quickly ascended through the ranks, earning promotion to the third division. “It was an opportunity to invest in a community and help rebuild something special,” he explained.

The couple initially planned to document their experience while in the fifth division. “We formulated the idea early on when we realized we had a compelling underdog story,” Consuelos added.

The unique approach of the documentary allows viewers to see deeper aspects of managing a team, including transfer windows and personal life challenges. Consuelos emphasized how important it was to combine the sports and personal narrative. “We wanted to show a side of our lives that people don’t typically see,” he noted.

“We thought it was just the ultimate underdog story, rooted in the passion of the people in this town,” Consuelos said about the captivating storyline depicted in the series.

With their personal touch, the couple aims to introduce American audiences to the Italian soccer leagues. Consuelos remarked, “The interest in Italian football is growing, and we hope our series contributes to that.”

Looking ahead, he is excited about the possibility of future episodes. “We’d love to do another season and revisit the team’s journey. The players quickly adapted to having cameras around, and we could explore even more of their stories,” he said.

Michael LaHaie serves as the director, and various executive producers including Ripa and Consuelos are involved, planning to share this unique blend of sports and personal storytelling with the world.