📈 MLS, Liga MX clubs among most valuable in the world

Last week, Sportico released their 2024 soccer club valuation rankings and one thing is abundantly clear: North America’s impact on the global game is growing expeditiously and shows no signs of slowing.

Let’s start with MLS. Of the top 50 clubs in Sportico’s rankings, MLS clubs account for 40% – the most by any single league in the world and more than double that of the Premier League. Five of the MLS clubs are in the top 20 and four have valuations exceeding $1B – something no club achieved in Sportico’s previous valuation rankings.

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) remains the highest-valued MLS club ($1.15B), with Atlanta United FC ($1.05B), Inter Miami CF ($1.02B), and LA Galaxy ($1B) rounding out the MLS clubs with valuations of a billion dollars or greater.

Three clubs from Mexico also made the list, meaning North American clubs account for nearly half (!!!) of the top 50 most valuable soccer clubs in the world, according to Sportico. Fierce rivals of El Súper Clasico – Club América ($750M) and Club Deportivo Guadalajara ($710M) – lead the way in valuation, followed by Club de Futbol Monterrey Rayados ($565M).

In the image above, you can see where the 23 North American teams in the top 50 stand relative to others when their rank and valuation are plotted. The four MLS clubs with a value of at least $1B lead the group with the 16 remaining MLS clubs and three most valuable Liga MX clubs trailing.

The impact goes well beyond MLS and Liga MX

North America’s influence on this list of most valuable global clubs extends beyond MLS and Liga MX clubs. The rolodex of minority or majority-owned clubs by Americans in Europe continues to grow as more and more see European club ownership as a smart investment.

By our count, eight additional clubs in the top 50 feature American owners or ownership groups: AC Milan, Arsenal, AS Roma, Aston Villa, Atalanta, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool.

This brings the grand total of North American-influenced clubs on the list to 31, or nearly two-thirds of the entire top 50. Next stop? The top 10 (LAFC trails Chelsea’s valuation by $2.32B, so there's some ground to make up) and an NWSL team cracking the top 50 (watch this space)!

🔐  Messi, Alex Morgan, the Premier League, Peso Pluma

What do they all have in common? They're all things Allstate Sueño Alianza participants love. In case you missed it, we recently published a report highlighting the on-field and off-field things these Hispanic soccer-loving teenagers enjoy.

During last year's Alianza de Futbol tour, we surveyed several thousand Sueño participants to get a first-hand account of the teams they follow, the players they adore, and the musical artists that form the soundtrack of their daily lives.

Download the report to dive deeper into insights into this Hispanic audience.

SPONSORSHIP: The Portland Timbers agreed to a multiyear jersey sponsorship deal with Tillamook County Creamery Association . The Oregon-based, farmer-owned dairy cooperative will also participate in the club's Fields for All program that works to build soccer fields and futsal courts for children in under-served communities.

BROADCAST: Amazon Prime Video and AT&T have struck a partnership deal that sees the telecommunications company serve as the leading sponsor of WNBA and NWSL events. In addition to being a lead sponsor for WNBA games, AT&T will be the presenting sponsor of the halftime show that airs during the 27 NWSL games to be featured on Prime in the 2024 season.

INVESTMENT: Cristiano Ronaldo is the latest professional athlete to invest in WHOOP , a wearable fitness technology company. The deal, the terms of which have not been disclosed, represents one of Ronaldo's most significant investments to date. The soccer superstar will become an official global ambassador for the company joining the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Rory McIlroy, and Eli Manning.

EXTRA TIME: Here's what else we're reading this week. Inside Hook provides an exposé into defending NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham FC and how the club's success is driving interest in the league as whole as the New Jersey-based club may be in the beginning stages of a dynasty. Additionally, Marketing Brew takes a deep dive into Frito-Lay's multi-year soccer strategy, which involves resonating with Gen Z through partnerships with Leagues Cup and superstar Lionel Messi.