Finance of Football

It’s supposed to be a week for presidents and prime ministers. But at this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York, FIFA president Gianni Infantino was just as visible—glad-handing world leaders, cutting reels for social media, and pushing the conversation toward the 2030 World Cup. Already the most complicated World Cup ever—with opening matches in South America before the bulk of game...

That shiny golden trophy every soccer player desperately wants? It’s the most prestigious individual award in sports. But here’s the thing - the winner gets exactly zero dollars in prize money for it. So why do they weep on stage and launch campaigns to win one? Hint: it’s not just for the glory - it’s for the massive, seven-figure bonuses from clubs and sponsors that come with it. The Ballon d'Or...

The scene is becoming alarmingly familiar: a US Men’s National Team match at home. It should be a sea of red white and blue. Instead, the stands are an ocean of opposing colors and the cheers for the visitors drown out the home fans. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, U.S. Soccer is facing a billion-dollar question: why is it struggling to sell out its own stadiums? Is it the inconsistent pro...

When 20-year-old superstar Alyssa Thompson traded LA's Angel City for London's Chelsea, it was more than a transfer - it was a multi-million dollar shot across the bow in one of the fiercest rivalries in women’s soccer. A knockdown, dragout battle being fought not on the pitch but on the balance sheet. The transatlantic rivalry shaping the future of the sport: America’s National Women’s Soccer Lea...

NOTE: At the time of recording Premiere League spending was around £2.88 Billion. It's since jumped up to 3.11 A whirlwind transfer window led by the Premier League spending a record £3.11 billion ($4.16 billion) has the soccer arms race skyrocketing to never-before-seen heights. Led by Liverpool’s club-record spend, and highlighted by Alexander Isak’s £125million move from Newcastle, Deadline Day...

What do Arsenal, Chelsea Liverpool, Manchester United, AC Milan, AS Roma, Birmingham City, Burnley, Espanyol, RCD Mallorca, Atalanta and Wrexham all have in common? They all have American owners.  From Tom Brady to Rob McElhenney, Stan Kroenke, Todd Boehly and Stephen Pagliuca, U.S. investment in European soccer clubs is the new Labubu—everybody wants one! On this week’s episode of Finance of...

Is Major League Soccer a legitimate top-flight league, or just a very lucrative retirement home for European superstars?  It’s been nearly 20 years since MLS enacted the designated player rule (AKA, the "Beckham Rule" ) and first rolled out the red carpet for aging icons. But with the arrival of the greatest of GOATS, Lionel Messi, and a new wave of blockbuster signings from Son Hueng-min to...

It was supposed to be a shining start to a new era for women's sports in Boston with  a NWSL expansion club set to begin play in 2026. But when the initial club name of BOS Nation FC and the accompanying "Too Many Balls" marketing campaign inspired near immediate backlash , the team learned the hard way that starting a new franchise isn't easy. But, unlike some franchises in other sports...

FIFA invested more than $1 billion to make the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States relevant. Did FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s gamble pay off and will it help raise the profile of soccer in the US? Or was the expanded tournament unnecessary, over hyped and potentially detrimental to more important league and tournament play? On this week’s episode of Finance of Football, hosts Asli Pelit...

Crack open a cold one with Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé as they explore the other partnership in soccer: beer and the beautiful game. From World Cup sales spikes to European pub madness, beer brands are redefining sports marketing. This week, they sit down with Ricardo Marques, SVP of Marketing at Michelob ULTRA, to unpack how the brand kicked its soccer strategy into high gear—and why “fit beer” i...

Mexican soccer kit brand Charly is stepping onto U.S. turf. In this episode, hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé sit down with Matthew Bickham, Charly’s Commercial Sales Director, to unpack the brand’s bold entry into the U.S. market through a strategic partnership with the USL. From tapping into local fan culture to crafting custom kits and forging authentic team collaborations, Bickham shares how...

Orange County SC owner James Keston joins hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé to dive into USL's groundbreaking decision to introduce promotion and relegation. What does this historic shift mean for clubs and the future of the league? What hurdles lie ahead in making this transition a success? Tune in for an in-depth discussion on how this move could transform the landscape of American soccer. See P...

World Cup champion and soccer icon Sam Mewis joins hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé to discuss stepping away from the pitch, the rapid rise of women’s soccer in the U.S. and beyond, and her new role as Editor-in-Chief of The Women's Game podcast on the Men in Blazers network. From career highs and tough transitions to behind-the-scenes insights on the sport’s future, Sam opens up about life after...

In this episode, Minute Media's EVP of global business Fabio Sá shares his wildest experiences in soccer—including the time he faced a barrage of flying cups filled with pee during Sao Paulo vs Fluminense in Morumbi Stadium in Sao Paulo . But beyond the chaos, he sees a bright future for the sport in the U.S. Tune in as he dives into the passion, challenges, and massive growth potential of soccer...

In this episode of Finance of Football , Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé dive into the legal battle between NASL and USSF/MLS with UCLA law professor and soccer law expert Steven A. Bank. A longtime follower of the case, Professor Bank unpacks the key arguments, the impact of the court’s decision, and what it means for the future of the U.S. soccer pyramid. Will NASL appeal? How does this case shape t...

Created and hosted by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé, Finance of Football is a podcast focused on The Business of the Beautiful Game. While football is the most popular sport on the planet, it hasn’t witnessed the same success in the United States … yet. But with the 2024 Copa América, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympics coming to the country and continent, the money and i...

In this episode of Finance of Football , hosts Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé break down the NWSL’s expansion into Denver and what it means for the league’s growth and the global rise of women’s soccer. Why was Denver chosen? Who’s behind the investment? And how does this move fit into the broader financial landscape of the sport? Tune in as we analyze the business, the market potential, and what’s n...

Less than a month before Major League Soccer kicks off its 30th season, the league and U.S. Soccer find themselves in the middle of a high-stakes antitrust lawsuit brought by billionaire Rocco Commisso, owner of the New York Cosmos and AFC Fiorentina. Since the trial began on January 13, the courtroom has seen testimony from major sports figures, including Clark Hunt—owner of the Super Bowl-bound...