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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For more, follow Asli and Michael on Instagram

Asli - @brefootcontessa

Michael - @michale.lore

And follow the show…

On Instagram - @financeoffootballpod

On Facebook - /financeoffootball

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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.