Soccer Business News 10/23/2026 - The Soccer Business Newsletter
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Welcome to The Soccer Business Newsletter - North America Brief and a special welcome to new subscribers. I was reminded this week of Don Garber's comment that the United States is becoming the 'ATM of world soccer'. FIFA announced yesterday that the tender process is now open in this market for the broadcast rights to the 2030 (and possibly 2034) World Cup with record revenues expected from whoever wins. FIFA also confirmed that the U.S will host the inaugural Women's Club World Cup in January 2028 featuring 19 clubs from across the globe. We'll break down those two news items along with everything else that has been happening in the soccer business in the past seven days in this region. Thanks also to those readers who have reached out with comments on the new Tuesday Global Brief - our recent dives into rewards schemes and fan-zones, with examples from across the globe, have generated some fascinating conversations on LinkedIn and elsewhere. Don't forget, if for some reason you prefer to receive only one of the newsletters, you can always manage your subscription here. Fox faces a real fight for World Cup rightsBids are due from U.S broadcasters for the rights to the 2030 World Cup broadcasts by November 19 with FIFA hoping to award them by the end of the year. There are a couple of factors that the media firms will need to decide before that deadline - do they make an offer for 2034 as well and will they be bidding for both English and Spanish language rights? Several media reports have suggested that FIFA would favor bids from broadcasters who can offer both language platforms - which would move away from the 2026 model where Fox had the English rights and Telemundo had the Spanish broadcasts. According to the SBJ, Fox paid $485 million and Telemundo $465 million for 2026 but FIFA are looking for a substantial uplift this time and the clear competition should help them secure that. NBC/Telemundo has the obvious benefit of an easy dual-language fit with Peacock able to offer both in one platform. NBC's experience with the Olympics will also reassure FIFA about their capability for a big event. But ESPN are reported to be keen on regaining the rights and they do have their ESPN Deportes platform as well as ABC networks and the Disney streaming package. The big, new factor this time around is the interest from streamers - FIFA showed it is willing to go down that route when it awarded the Spain/Andorra rights for 2030 to Netflix. The global body also awarded Netflix the US and Canadian rights for the 2027 Women's World Cup. Netflix tend to keep their cards close to their chest but it would be a surprise if they were not interested - the big question is whether they will face a challenge from Amazon or even YouTube? Would the streamers bid for both languages? Or could they look to partner with, perhaps, Univision. ESPN paired with Univision for the 2014 rights. Just how fixed FIFA will be on dual-language bids may prove to be the determining factor. But, one thing is for sure, after enjoying a record-breaking 2026 tournament, Fox face a real battle to have the chance of a repeat show in 2030. When it comes to women - the U.S. leads the wayThe first ever 2028 FIFA Women's Club World Cup is an ambitious project and it was no surprise that FIFA opted for the safe option of the USA as hosts. Frankly there isn't another market in the world that would be as safe a bet, in terms of attendances, than here. Details of host cities have yet to be released but one could imagine that MLS size stadiums would be the prudent option for the group stage with markets that have established NWSL franchises likely to be at the front of the queue. But it is not only the NWSL fans that make the USA the ideal market - the Hispanic communities will be expected to turn out strongly for South American teams and the East Coast is a relatively easy trip for fans of the six European clubs which will feature. Broadcast rights have yet to be announced but FIFA can be assured of plenty of high-profile coverage from any of the US media outlets - something that can't be assured elsewhere for a new competition. There will be an appetizer for this tournament in late January, 2027 when Miami hosts the final four of the FIFA Women's Champions Cup. Unlocking Ticketing Success - with Jim McCarthyTicketing and growth expert Jim McCarthy (Impresario) joins me this week to unpack ticketing, and what MLS, USL and other clubs should do differently. Jim founded Gold Star, one of the first live event marketplaces (12 million buyers, tickets for around two million events), and now helps clubs grow their audiences. There are tons of takeaways regardless of the level of club you are focused on - click on the image below for links to Spotify, Apple and our YouTube video channel. We have more podcasts on the way next week with the next episode of the Women's Soccer Business Podcast on Wednesday - make sure to subscribe on the platform of your choice to receive notifications. And if you are interested in advertising on the podcast (or in this newsletter) reach out to me at simon@thesoccerbusiness.com USL UNVEILS "UNITED FOR SOCCER" BRAND AHEAD OF PRO/REL LAUNCH. The USL introduced a single visual identity across its eight leagues, including a new wordmark and a "USL Blue" colour scheme, developed with Tampa agency Spark. Research found US fans often saw USL divisions as separate leagues, and the rebrand is meant to unify them and tell the player-development story. The new brand launches immediately, with a full rollout from January 2027, ahead of USL Premier's 2028 debut as the top tier of a promotion-and-relegation pyramid. USL release. ATLANTA CITY FC HIRES GOTHAM'S RICHARD GUNNEY AS FIRST CHIEF SOCCER OFFICER. The Arthur Blank-owned NWSL expansion club, which debuts in 2028 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, has hired Gunney from Gotham FC, where he was director of scouting and roster development from 2022. He helped build the rosters that won league titles in 2023 and 2025, and starts on November 1. Gotham has already added Ed Nalbandian, Adam Loiacono and Megan Young to its sporting leadership. Atlanta joins NWSL Columbus in staffing its front office early. ESPN | Just Women's Sports CARVANA RENEWS PHOENIX RISING FRONT-OF-KIT DEAL FOR A 10TH SEASON. The online used-car retailer has signed a multi-year renewal as the USL Championship club's front-of-kit sponsor, with terms undisclosed. Carvana has been on Rising's shirts since 2018, and the deal also supports the club's youth programs at recreational and competitive levels. Business Wire via Bastille Post DULUTH TRADING NAMED SPORTING KC'S "OFFICIAL RUGGED LIFESTYLE PARTNER." The Wisconsin-based workwear retailer has signed on with the MLS club in a deal built around fan activations and community programming. Terms were not disclosed. PR Newswire VALVOLINE JOINS FIFA WOMEN'S WORLD CUP BRAZIL 2027 AS AN OFFICIAL SUPPORTER. Lexington, Kentucky-based Valvoline Global Operations extends its FIFA relationship after becoming a regional supporter of the 2026 World Cup, its first event of that scale. It also backed the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2019 and 2023 and the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup. The 32-team tournament runs June 24 to July 25, 2027, the first Women's World Cup in South America. PR Newswire U.S.-LED GROUP BACKED BY KKR FOUNDERS BUYS 42% OF VALENCIA AT A €1.25BN VALUATION. Pitchwise Holdings, a consortium of family offices and institutional investors led by sports executives Ann Rodriguez and Corey Woolfolk, will buy 42% of Valencia CF from majority owner Meriton Holdings. The deal values the club at €1.25 billion ($1.4bn) including debt and includes €100m of fresh capital, subject to regulatory approvals. Backers include the family offices of KKR co-founders Henry Kravis and George Roberts, and Penner Sports Group, the Denver Broncos owners founded by Greg and Carrie Penner. Meriton keeps its majority stake and Kiat Lim stays as president, with Rodriguez and Woolfolk joining him in a new ownership group that will oversee the move to the 70,000-plus-capacity Nou Mestalla. Reuters | Forbes REDBIRD IN EARLY TALKS TO BUY 70% OF AL-NASSR, WITH RONALDO EYEING 20%. The New York-based owners of AC Milan and Toulouse have reportedly held at least two meetings with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund about a roughly $267m deal for 70% of the Saudi club. Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to take 20%, and his contract reportedly gives him a priority right to buy up to that amount if the club opens to private investors. Semafor reports that PIF is arranging sponsorship deals to clear about $213m of Al-Nassr debt ahead of any sale. Talks are preliminary, no terms are agreed, and neither RedBird nor PIF has confirmed anything. Yahoo Sports ATLÉTICO DE SAN LUIS SET TO ACQUIRE ALFONSO LASTRAS STADIUM. Liga MX club Atlético de San Luis is expected to complete the purchase of its home stadium from the Payán family in the coming days, according to an October 22 report by Futbol Total. The acquisition would replace a 20-year use agreement established following Atlético de Madrid’s arrival in San Luis Potosí in 2017, bringing the venue directly into the Mexican club’s asset base. The report says the transaction will also increase the Payán family’s equity participation in the franchise. Separately, construction of the club’s delayed training complex is now scheduled to begin in February 2027. No stadium purchase price was reported. Totalfutbol.com SAN DIEGO WAVE STADIUM PROPOSAL DRAWS SCRUTINY. A proposal by San Diego Wave’s majority owners to redevelop the Del Mar Fairgrounds has prompted debate over transport, traffic and the use of public land. The plans, examined in an October 23 San Diego Union-Tribune business and economics feature, include a 12,000–16,000-seat stadium, 350,000 square feet of retail, a 125,000-square-foot convention centre and a 300-room hotel. No project cost was disclosed. The proposal remains subject to further development and review. The San Diego Union-Tribune Contact UsPlease contact us: By email: simon@thesoccerbusiness.com By visiting this page on our website: https://thesoccerbusiness.com |