Five Major League Soccer (MLS) teams are now worth $1 billion — and expansion ahead of the 2026 World Cup is driving the surge.

Ahead of the 2026 season, Major League Soccer has officially entered its financial power era. The average club is now valued at $767 million — up 6% year over year and nearly 40% since 2021.

So what’s behind the explosion?

Michael and Asli break down the arrival of “MLS 3.0” — a new era defined by rising franchise fees, smarter infrastructure strategy, and the looming impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Clubs like Inter Miami CF, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Atlanta United FC, and New York City FC have crossed the billion-dollar mark — and expansion fees are climbing fast. San Diego FC paid $500 million to enter the league and is already valued near $800 million after just one season.

But the real story is stadium economics.

MLS has shifted from flexible entry requirements to demanding infrastructure first. Soccer-specific venues unlock naming rights, sponsorships, mixed-use development, and year-round revenue. It’s no longer just about matchday income — it’s about long-term asset growth.

That brings us to the big question: MLS is at 30 teams. Do they expand to 32 like the NFL? Or stop here?

We examine the most realistic contenders — Sacramento Republic FC, Las Vegas, Mesa, Arizona, and Indianapolis — and what it would actually cost to join the league today.

We also explore why some American billionaires are investing overseas instead — including Bill Foley’s purchase of AFC Bournemouth — and what that signals about global football capital.

Then the focus shifts to World Cup logistics, including New York City’s proposal to pilot free public transportation during the tournament.

MLS is no longer fighting for legitimacy.

It’s deciding how big it wants to become.

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The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

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Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What do Madonna and Giannis Antetokounmpo have in common?

Women’s soccer.

Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé break down the growing wave of celebrity attention and investment pouring into the women’s game — starting with Madonna being spotted at a Chelsea Women vs Tottenham youth match, supporting her daughters in the Spurs academy. When a global icon shines a spotlight on women’s soccer, it’s more than a family moment. It’s awareness, distribution, and commercial momentum.

Then comes the financial headline: Giannis joining the ownership group of Chelsea Women alongside Alexis Ohanian. The deal values Chelsea Women at roughly $265 million, making it the most valuable women’s soccer club in the world. The hosts explore a larger trend — elite American athletes investing in English football, from JJ Watt and Tom Brady to Kevin Durant and LeBron James — and why celebrity ownership works when it’s authentic and trusted by supporters.

It’s also a strategic play. Active athletes understand franchise valuations, media leverage, and the branding power they bring simply by attaching their name to a club. For women’s soccer — still fighting for investment parity and global visibility — that kind of crossover audience can be transformative. Fandom doesn’t get replaced; it expands.

The conversation then pivots to the World Cup. With U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement confirming it will be part of tournament security, questions are already surfacing globally about safety, perception, and whether the U.S. feels welcoming to international fans. Add in the random ticket draw closing, resale prices climbing, and uncertainty around future sales phases — and the 2026 build-up is already chaotic.

Michael shares his own failed ticket bid strategy, while Asli offers perspective from the Club World Cup, where late resale prices unexpectedly dropped. Will the World Cup follow the same pattern, or is it simply too big — and too global — for bargains to emerge?

From record-breaking valuations in women’s soccer to mounting anxiety over access and affordability, this episode captures a pivotal moment in global football — where growth, celebrity influence, politics, and fan experience are all colliding at once.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

2026 should be the most important year in Major League Soccer history.

MLS is coming off its strongest season ever, capped by a 2025 finale that delivered record global viewership and massive social engagement, underscoring the scale of the Messi Effect. With Lionel Messi’s contract extended through 2028 and the global soccer world increasingly focused on North America ahead of 2026, the league enters a pivotal stretch that could define its next era.

In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael LoRé and Asli Pelit unpack what’s driving MLS’s momentum and whether the league is positioned to turn attention into permanence. They examine soaring team valuations, continued expansion interest, and why MLS now claims the youngest and most diverse fanbase among North American men’s professional leagues.

The conversation looks at how Gen Z audiences consume soccer through highlights, social media, and athlete-driven storytelling, and why MLS’s international roster — with players representing more than 70 countries — gives the league a unique global advantage. They also discuss the significance of MLS’s Apple deal in expanding worldwide access and what a World Cup-driven halo effect could mean for the league in 2026 and beyond.

As MLS approaches its 30th season with unprecedented visibility, the central question isn’t whether the league is growing, but whether this moment can permanently change soccer’s place in the American sports landscape.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming — and New York and New Jersey are at the center of it.

In this episode of Finance of Football, Michael LoRé and Asli Pelit speak with Alex Lasry, CEO of the New York–New Jersey World Cup Host Committee, about what it takes to deliver the biggest sporting event in history.

Lasry draws on experience spanning the Obama White House, NBA ownership with the Milwaukee Bucks, and U.S. tourism leadership to explain the scale of coordination required across two states, multiple transit systems, security agencies, and FIFA itself. From transportation and safety to fan festivals and economic impact, the episode breaks down how public-private partnerships underpin the tournament.

The conversation also tackles accessibility and cost, including the decision to charge for FIFA Fan Fest entry and how host cities are trying to balance security, crowd management, and inclusion. Looking beyond 2026, Lasry outlines the legacy he hopes the World Cup will leave — expanding grassroots access to football, driving long-term tourism and investment, and inspiring a new generation of American players.

The episode closes with a new World Cup Update segment, examining how geopolitics and global tensions could shape the road to 2026.

The World Cup is coming.

How it’s remembered is still being decided.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Finance of Football welcomes Alan Rothenberg, one of the most influential figures in U.S. soccer history.

Joined by Michael LoRé, Rothenberg reflects on the unlikely moments that launched American soccer onto the global stage — from the breakout success of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics to leading the 1994 World Cup, founding Major League Soccer, and helping shape the women’s game.

Despite entering the sport as an outsider, Rothenberg explains how professional management, big-event thinking, and long-term vision helped transform soccer from a fringe pastime into a permanent fixture in the American sports landscape.

Looking ahead to 2026, he outlines what real success looks like this time: stronger TV ratings, deeper investment in MLS and NWSL, rising team valuations, and a World Cup that creates lasting momentum rather than a temporary spike in interest.

From expansion debates to the challenge of turning “World Cup curious” fans into lifelong supporters, this episode explores how past decisions built the game — and what must happen next for 2026 to truly move it forward.

For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s officially a World Cup year — but the road to 2026 is already uneasy.

As the random ticket draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup closes, millions of fans are hoping for seats to what FIFA calls the biggest sporting event in history. At the same time, a growing number are calling for a boycott, driven by political fear, rising costs, and real concerns about safety and welcome in the United States under Donald Trump.

In this solo year-opening episode, Michael LoRé wrestles with the tension forming around a tournament meant to unite the world. Immigration enforcement, visa uncertainty, gun violence fears, and dynamic pricing are colliding with the promise of a joyful global celebration — leaving many fans asking whether it’s worth the risk to attend at all.

Michael places the moment in historical context, examining how major sporting events have been shaped — and sometimes overshadowed — by politics and power. The question facing 2026 is simple but urgent: can North America host a World Cup that actually feels safe, open, and welcoming for everyone wearing a different flag?

The episode then turns to a more hopeful storyline in women’s football. As the NWSL battles European leagues for elite talent, new rules designed to retain stars like Trinity Rodman signal a league entering a serious, global phase. The return of U.S. captain Lindsay Heaps adds momentum at a moment when investment and ambition in the women’s game are finally aligning.

The World Cup is coming. The demand is real. The stakes are enormous. Whether 2026 becomes a celebration or a cautionary tale is still being decided.

For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Ryan Hammond, Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

World Cup 2026 will be the biggest sporting spectacle in human history — with a projected 3.7 billion viewers for the final alone. In the Finance of Football season finale, Michael LoRé is joined by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and First Lady Tammy Murphy to explain what it really means to host the World Cup Final in New Jersey and the scale of what’s coming to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

They break down the reality behind hosting: fan zones like Liberty State Park, millions of visitors to the New York–New Jersey region, and how FIFA is turning the tournament into a month-long cultural takeover rather than just a series of matches.

The Murphys also share how soccer became central to their family life — from early fandom and time in Germany to investing in Gotham FC and backing women’s soccer long before it was fashionable — and why they see the NWSL’s rise as both a moral win and a long-term growth story.

The episode closes on what they hope 2026 leaves behind: more access, more participation, new community pitches, and a sport that continues to bring people together long after the final whistle.

---

For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The World Cup draw just turned into a full-blown circus — comedians, concerts, fake peace prizes, supermodels, and a two-day TV marathon before a single ball was revealed. This week, Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé break it all down with Men in Blazers founder Roger Bennett, who was in the middle of the madness.

Roger explains why FIFA is transforming the 2026 World Cup into an American-style entertainment product — and why this draw may be the preview of a tournament that changes football forever. What used to “be an email” is now a global spectacle, and he says that’s no accident.

They also dig into the biggest storyline fans aren’t ready for: 2026 might be the most expensive World Cup in history. Tickets, hotels, travel — everything is skyrocketing. But Roger argues it won’t matter. Every World Cup starts in panic and ends in pure chaos and joy on the streets — from Brazil’s beach takeovers to South Africa’s vuvuzela mania. Kansas City hosting Argentina? Unreal scenes incoming.

Then the conversation zooms out: how did America go from ignoring the 1994 World Cup to becoming one of the most plugged-in football markets in the world? Roger walks through the long game — Beckham, Messi, NWSL growth, streaming, FIFA video games — and what’s at stake for MLS and the U.S. men’s national team heading into 2026.

And finally, Roger gives the prediction only Roger could give: Haaland as a Nordic Shaq, the Village People somehow already winning, and why he still dreams of a U.S. run on home soil. If you want to understand what’s coming in 2026 — the hype, the money, the chaos, the opportunity — this is the episode.

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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

---

The Finance of Football, a Frequency Machine Podcast, is…

Written, Hosted, and Produced by Asli Pelit and Michael LoRé

Editing and Sound Design by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book and Avi Glijansky

---

Check out more of Frequency Machine’s podcasts - including Undercover Sports, a show about the wildest sports conspiracy theories, at frequencymachine.com

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.