The Insider's Lounge
The Insider's Lounge
MLS Valuation Bubble, Club World Cup Controversy, and Salford City's New Era with Beckham & Neville
This week, Iker Nacenta joins The Insider's Lounge to break down some of the biggest stories in soccer business, from MLS valuations and FIFA governance to player career transitions and lower-league ownership moves.
We start with Sportico’s 2025 list of the 50 most valuable soccer clubs. Leading the list are global giants like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and FC Barcelona, but the sharp rise of MLS clubs raises questions about valuation strategy and long-term positioning. MLS accounts for 19 of the top 50 most valuable clubs, yet on the revenue side, it doesn’t feature at all in the top 20 global sports IP rankings. That disconnect sets up the next part of our discussion, where we break down the leading revenue-generating sports properties worldwide and what it reveals about soccer’s place in the broader financial landscape.
Next, we dive into the Club World Cup shake-up after FIFA disqualified Club León due to multi-club ownership rules. LAFC and Club América will now face off for a $10 million spot in the expanded tournament, spotlighting growing tensions between regulation and commercial ambition.
We then explore FIFA’s new Player Career Program, which helps players prepare for life after retirement through mental health support, business training, and leadership development. With names like Casemiro, Thiago Silva, and David Luiz enrolled, FIFA may be setting a new standard for post-playing pathways.
Finally, we discuss Salford City’s new chapter as David Beckham and Gary Neville take full control. Backed by business and political firepower, the League Two club has pledged long-term investment in infrastructure and staff, but questions remain about the sustainability of their model and what it signals for celebrity-backed ownership in lower league football.
Iker's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ikernacenta/
Sports Capital Hub: https://linktr.ee/sportscapitalhub
🎙️ More Insider's Lounge Content: https://linktr.ee/theinsiderslounge
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:50 Sportico’s 2025 List of the 50 Most Valuable Soccer Clubs
15:23 The Biggest 20 Sports IP Owners by Revenue
26:14 Club León Officially Out of Club World Cup: LAFC vs Club América to Play for $10M Spot
37:47 FIFA’s New Career Program: Helping Players Reinvent Life After Football
44:06 Salford City's Next Chapter Under New Ownership Group feat. David Beckham & Gary Neville
56:59 Outro
