The 2022 World Cup represented a step forward for both the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams.

While the men returned to the global tournament after missing it in 2018, the women’s team saw big returns on an equal pay settlement agreed to in February with the U.S. Soccer Federation. 

• As a result of the settlement, the men and women’s teams will split their winnings, meaning that the USWNT will receive $6.5 million for the men’s team making the quarterfinals, more than they made for their last two World Cup wins combined.
• “It was an amazing thing to see,” Carli Lloyd, who was on both the 2015 and 2019 USWNT championship teams, told Front Office Sports. “For us, this was just another stepping stone to continue to push on and make things better.”
• Lloyd, a former USWNT co-captain, is working with investing app Acorns on an initiative to get more women to invest.

FIFA Next?

The unprecedented move by the U.S. national teams has put a spotlight on FIFA, which provides far less in prize money for the Women’s World Cup. 

Soccer’s global governing body will distribute $440 million to World Cup teams this year, compared to $30 million for the Women’s World Cup in 2019.

“There are underlying systemic issues ingrained in the sport from years of inequality, and these recent wins are one step in the right direction,” said Lloyd.

Megan Rapinoe, who co-captained the USWNT with Lloyd, echoed that sentiment following February’s settlement, saying FIFA “should feel like they’re next.”

An American investor will have help securing a takeover deal for a top French soccer club.

Former FuboTV executive John Textor has agreed to acquire Ligue 1’s Olympique Lyonnais with Gordon Rubenstein, the managing partner of Raine Ventures — The Raine Group’s VC arm. 

“I think we have an incredibly strong group behind the effort, which is focused on creating value for the community,” Rubenstein told Bloomberg.

• The acquisition will be through Textor’s investment vehicle, Eagle Football Holdings.
• EFH will pay $344.2 million for 39.2 million shares and 789,824 subordinated bonds.
• The deal is expected to be finalized on Dec. 19. and will value Lyon at $842 million.  

Earlier this week, Textor gave Lyon assurances that he will complete a deal for the club. He was given a Dec. 7 deadline to reach an agreement after a series of snags delayed the sale process.

Genstar Capital chairman Jean-Pierre Conte also joined Lyon’s pending new ownership group. Conte is part of a consortium of minority investors that plan to allocate roughly $105 million toward the acquisition.

Another New Owner

Lyon would join a growing list of European soccer clubs with American owners, most recently the Premier League’s AFC Bournemouth. 

On Tuesday, Vegas Golden Knights owner Billy Foley and a consortium of investors finalized their acquisition of Bournemouth in a deal worth $150.7 million.

The deal puts half of the Premier League’s 20 clubs under American ownership.

The Women’s Super League’s interest in outside investment has reignited as it draws record attendance figures.

The WSL board is close to reengaging investment bank Rothschild to look at investor interest in the league’s commercial rights, according to Sky Sports — and could seek up to around $123.8 million in outside funding. 

Rothschild was previously hired by the WSL and FA — which the WSL sits under — around 18 months ago to explore funding options. 

• Premier League CEO Richard Masters has expressed interest in taking over the women’s league.
• FA director of women’s football Sue Campbell said in July that it was “working with the [WSL] clubs to create a company which will be an FA subsidiary and the FA will still be there as a shareholder.” 

In December 2021, Barclays renewed its title sponsorship of the WSL — reportedly a record for commercial investment. Barclays also renewed its sponsorship for the Premier League.

Popular Potential 

The WSL struck a domestic broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and the BBC last year, with the former paying a reported $20.8 million per season.

Kelly Simmons, FA Director of the Women’s Professional Game, said last week that attendance for the Barclays Women’s Super League was up 200% so far from the last season, “averaging almost 6,000 fans a week.”

Pickleball is going pro — and proving it’s unlike any other sport in the U.S.

Major League Pickleball revealed its 2023 format and schedule, bringing the league to five locations in the southern half of the U.S. and dishing out $5 million in prize money and payouts to its players.

• The league will draft 24 teams of two men and two women on Thursday in Las Vegas.
• The first 48 players drafted will form 12 teams that play at the Premier Level, while the second set of 48 will play in the second-tier Challenger Level.
• The teams will play a three-event season, then switch levels and redraft players for a second season.  

The first season will consist of events in Arizona, Florida, and Southern California, respectively in January, March, and June. The second season will start in Georgia in September, followed by events back in California in November and December.

Starting with the 2024 season, Major League Pickleball will introduce a promotion/relegation system between its two levels.

Senior Circuit

MLP isn’t the only game in town: Five nationally ranked male and female pickleball players have joined the National Pickleball League, which will launch in 2023 for people aged 50 and over.

Pickleball has impressive gender and age diversity. Among all pickleball players, 29.6% are over the age of 55 — and of those who play eight times or more per year, 51.9% are over 55, according to USA Pickleball. 

Women account for 40% of pickleball players.