latest insights - Football Capitalist

How Sports Betting in the US and European Football Can Save Each Other — But Is It Worth It?

November 25, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

US Sports Betting and European Football - How can they save each other?

Introduction Two industries stand at a crossroads. In the United States, sports betting has exploded into a multibillion‑dollar market since legalization spread state by state. In Europe, football clubs outside the elite are struggling to balance books, sustain grassroots programs, and compete in an increasingly commercialized environment. The temptation is clear: betting operators crave global … Read more

Editorial: MLS and Apple — The End of the “Mutual Agreement”

November 21, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

Three years ago, Major League Soccer and Apple TV announced what was hailed as a landmark: a 10-year, $2.5 billion media rights deal that would redefine how American soccer was consumed.

The Global Value of Youth Soccer: A Decade Ahead

November 21, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

Youth soccer is evolving into a global industry with measurable economic impact, cultural significance, and geopolitical weight. The market for youth sports is projected to grow from USD 37.98 billion in 2024 to USD 63.84 billion by 2033, with soccer as the dominant driver. Case studies from Aspire Academy (Qatar), Right to Dream (Ghana), and La Masia (Barcelona) illustrate how different models—state-backed, grassroots, and club-integrated—are shaping the future of football. Crucially, the thousands of grassroots clubs in cities like Barcelona, Madrid, and Rotterdam form the hidden infrastructure that sustains participation and talent development. Over the next decade…

The Overcommercialization of Football — And Why Fans Are Returning to the Neighborhood Club

November 17, 2025November 17, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

Fans and Global Football - The return of the neighborhood football club is now.

How rising commercialization, inflated matchday costs, and diluted club identity are pushing fans back to grassroots football, fueling the comeback of neighborhood and barrio clubs worldwide. Football has never been more global, more corporate, or more commercially engineered. Private equity, mega-brand partnerships, international tours, and premium ticketing have reshaped the game’s financial engine. Yet this … Read more

LaLiga Expands Global Media Footprint with New UK and South Asia Broadcast Deals

November 5, 2025November 5, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

La Liga South Asia UK Global media broadcast

LaLiga has strengthened its international media position through two major broadcast agreements covering both the United Kingdom/Ireland and South Asia. The new UK deal will see LaLiga matches distributed through Premier Sports and Disney+ through the 2027–28 season, giving the league a stable broadcast partner in one of football’s most competitive media markets. In parallel, … Read more

City Football Group Faces £122M Loss as Global Expansion Strategy Evolves

November 6, 2025November 5, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

City Football Group (CFG) has reported a pre-tax loss of £122.2 million for the 2023–24 season, despite generating £933.1 million in total revenue. The group’s multi-club strategy spans more than a dozen clubs worldwide, including Manchester City, New York City FC, Girona FC, Melbourne City FC, Yokohama F. Marinos, and several emerging-market affiliates. The financial … Read more

RedBird Redefines Multi-Club Playbook: Cost Control, Talent Sourcing & Portfolio Growth

November 6, 2025November 5, 2025 by FootballCapitalist.com

RedBird Capital has strengthened its multi-club ownership strategy by implementing operational discipline across its football portfolio. At Toulouse FC, RedBird emphasized controlling wage inflation, improving staff efficiency, and recruiting undervalued young talent capable of development and resale. The strategy is focused on building sustainable sporting and commercial performance rather than relying on speculative transfers or … Read more