Charlotte, NC – December 16, 2024 – Sports Business Journal (SBJ) and its sister company, Leaders in Sport (LIS), are proud to announce the launch of The Business of Soccer conference, taking place March 19-20, 2025 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, California. This premier event will bring together all the major North American stakeholders, including the region’s governing football body, federations, leagues, and investment groups to meet their international counterparts.
For The Business of Soccer, SBJ and LIS are partnering with Major League Soccer (MLS) and the Confederation of North, Central America and the Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf).
Over the coming years, the global soccer community will descend upon North America for the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals, 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, and 2028 Summer Olympics. These international events, in addition to the increasingly global MLS, will bring unprecedented attention and investment to the sport in the region. The Business of Soccer will address the significant business opportunities for North American and global organizations.
Celebrating its 30th season in 2025, MLS has established itself as one of the world’s top soccer leagues, attracting the highest levels of domestic and international talent on and off the field and signing top-tier media and sponsorship deals. The league has strategically expanded into new markets, formed an innovative partnership with Apple, and in 2024 had the second-highest total attendance among global soccer leagues.
Concacaf is one of FIFA’s six continental confederations, representing 41 federations from Canada and the United States in the north to Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana in the south. The confederation organizes official competitions for both men’s and women’s national teams and clubs, including men’s and women’s Gold Cups and all of the region’s qualification tournaments for FIFA World Cups. In these events, teams face off for regional supremacy, while generating significant revenue and providing valuable exposure for all stakeholders. Additionally, Concacaf invests heavily in youth tournaments and programs that are focused on developing football across the entire region.
SBJ, with its deep insights into the North American sports market, brings unparalleled expertise in understanding the business dynamics and trends shaping the region. LIS, renowned for its global perspective, connects industry professionals from around the world, fostering international collaboration and innovation. Together, SBJ and LIS are uniquely positioned to host The Business of Soccer, bridging regional insights with global strategies.
“Sports Business Journal has been out front in covering the growth of soccer in North America,” said Abe Madkour, publisher and executive editor at SBJ. “Now we will join our colleagues at Leaders in Sport to produce the ultimate B2B gathering of executives in the sport. In this critical moment as decades of tireless work from MLS and Concacaf come to fruition over the next four years, SBJ and our colleagues at Leaders in Sport are proud to partner with both organizations on The Business of Soccer.”
“With soccer in North America continuing to grow in significance on and off the field, the launch of The Business of Soccer conference comes at an ideal time,” said MLS Commissioner Don Garber. “We’re pleased to partner with Concacaf, as well as Sports Business Journal and Leaders in Sport, who bring extensive expertise in producing industry-leading events. This conference will offer a valuable platform to explore the business opportunities and developments shaping the future of the sport.”
"Our region is entering a hugely exciting period as we prepare to host the world’s biggest sporting event, the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the next 18 months, Concacaf competitions — including the Nations League Finals, Gold Cup, and men’s and women’s Champions Cups—will offer an extraordinary opportunity for new fans, businesses, and brands in North America and the region to engage with the sport as it rapidly continues to gain popularity,” said Concacaf President and FIFA Vice President Victor Montagliani . “We look forward to partnering with MLS, Sports Business Journal, and Leaders in Sport for The Business of Soccer and to welcoming new stakeholders to the beautiful game in our region”.
The Business of Soccer will feature a diverse lineup of speakers and topics, including media rights, sponsorship, fan engagement and the impact of technology on the sport. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in panel discussions, networking sessions and workshops designed to explore and provide insight around the latest trends, challenges and opportunities in the business of soccer.
In 2025, The Business of Soccer will be a private, invitation-only conference with registration expanding for the 2026 and 2027 conferences.
