#5, 2025 ::: MLS antitrust case, women's football investment grows, Inter Miami secures major deal, and more
If you want daily news of the business of soccer, follow The Soccer FC !?
#1) U.S. Soccer and MLS win $500 million antitrust lawsuit against NASL
The court victory solidifies MLS and USSF’s stance in American soccer, impacting potential new leagues and market investments.
#2) Ariel Investments launches women's sports fund and invests in Denver’s new NWSL team
A major move for the growth of women's soccer in the U.S., attracting new investors and strengthening the league.
#3) Inter Miami partners with Mondelez, highlighting the Ritz Crackers brand
Messi’s team continues to attract major sponsors, reinforcing the commercial value of the club and MLS.
USA
National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) will pay $5 million in abuse settlement and offer players free, unlimited therapy. The settlement, announced by the attorney general of New York, Illinois, and Washington, D.C., aims to compensate affected players and implement measures to prevent future harm.
Cosm plans to take its immersive shared reality sports venues global, with expansions in Atlanta and Detroit and potential US$300M funding for international growth.
UK
RTVE to broadcast Euro 2028 and Spain's matches; president José Pablo López announced an agreement with UEFA .
Arsenal F.C , FC Bayern München , and Paris Saint-Germain were urged to end Visit Rwanda sponsorship deals, following DR Congo's foreign minister's request amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
Premier League had "no conversations" about playing games in the US; the league’s chief football officer rules out overseas matches.
Women’s sport ecosystem “thriving” as UK viewership hits 45.2M in 2024, marking its most-watched year ever outside global tournaments.
SPAIN
Bahrain signs a sponsorship deal with Córdoba CF, expanding its investments in Spanish football.
领英推荐
GERMANY
Tipico has renewed its long-standing Bundesliga partnership until 2029, remaining an official partner of the top-flight Bundesliga and second-tier Bundesliga 2.
ITALY
Serie A secured a partnership with Bancomat, granting brand exposure through the 2025-26 season.
LATAM
The LFU- Globo deal completed the Série A rights cycle in Brazil, with Globo acquiring the remaining package of rights from the LFU block and securing media rights for at least the next three seasons.
Betsson solidified its Latam position with Club Atlético Boca Juniors and Racing renewals, extending its front-of-shirt sponsorship with Boca Juniors due to enhanced brand visibility and customer acquisitions in the key Latin American market.
UEFA
UEFA brought back Gillette for Champions League sponsorship, with the 宝洁 -owned brand returning as an official licensed shaving product partner after the initial deal in 2019.
联合利华 and UEFA signed a multi-brand Women’s Euro deal, with brands from Unilever’s food and personal care divisions involved in the 16-team tournament.
OTHER MARKETS
Soccer struggles to tackle environmental impact, with annual emissions hitting 66M tCO2e. Sponsorships promoting heavily polluting activities account for 75% of the sport's global carbon footprint.
DAZN spent close to $1bn in global rights of the FIFA Club World Cup, aiming for the greatest data capture in the history of sport.
Visa expanded AFC deal on global terms, enhancing its continental football sponsorship with an 'Official Global Supporter' agreement for the 2023-2028 term.
EA SPORTS acquired optical tracking tech firm Tracab to bolster content offering, using data analytics to power new interactive content formats for the EA Sports App and enhance accuracy in the EA Sports FC series.
Roblox sports experiences attracted 500 million hours of activity in 2024, representing US$300 million in potential earned media value.
Sports Interactive and Sega cancelled Football Manager 2025 to focus on developing FM 2026.