Alex M. Silverman🏒⚽️

Wondering where in North America your favorite World Cup team will be training this summer? Or which teams will be in your area? Check out @SBJ's running list of 2026 FIFA World Cup base camp locations. sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

FIFA & the business of sports in India, China. Reliance-Disney just offered FIFA $20 million. FIFA doesn't like that. There's no broadcast deal in China either. Result? Billions of fans may miss the FIFA World Cup 2026 India's newly merged media giant has offered just $20 million bid for 2026 World Cup broadcast rights -- a fraction of FIFA's ask. With matches airing past midnight IST, ad budgets hit by the Iran conflict, and cricket still king, the math simply doesn't work for them, sources tell Reuters Reliance-Disney has spent billions on cricket broadcast rights, but financials about FIFA rights not working for them. Meanwhile China -- which accounted for nearly 50% of all digital World Cup viewing hours in 2022 -- has no deal either. Together the two countries represent over 22% of global World Cup streaming. Five weeks to kickoff. No broadcasters. Read details. With @MunsifV @Amlan_Reuters, @JournoPraveen tinyurl.com/yc54c7mx

New at @SBJ: FIFA is a tax-exempt organization in the U.S., so it is not expected to pay federal taxes on most of the revenue it generates here during the World Cup. Now, the governing body is trying to help participating teams achieve the same status. sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

Good piece here highlighting the dramatic change between @GovMurphy's approach to the World Cup and that of his successor @GovSherrillNJ.

Hey @RegalMovies. Any idea what this means for tomorrow’s “F1 on Apple TV Live in IMAX: Miami Race (2026)” showing at Regal Stonecrest in Charlotte?

Florida Panthers owner Vinnie Viola has won back-to-back Stanley Cups and now the 152nd Kentucky Derby. What an insane three year run for him.

Welcome to ABTV, the official television broadcast home of the @Angels and @LAKings! 📺 Same providers, same channels, same teams you love.

@soxboy64 @MLS @KKR_Co @SBJ Most teams don't right now. That's why MLS is doing this deal. MLS-affiliated teams will now be placed in markets where they are the primary soccer team, ideally drawing crowds and tapping into other revenue streams. Would be akin to minor league baseball or USL.

@AlexMSilverman @MLS @KKR_Co @SBJ How does MLS Next Pro actually make money? I go to the matches for free and there’s no concessions.

Breaking: @MLS is forming a joint venture with PE firm @KKR_Co that will centralize commercial rights for most MLS Next Pro teams. The new venture, Hometown Soccer Holdings, plans to relaunch many of the development teams in new markets. More at @SBJ. sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

My colleague @Bretjust1T reports the Tampa Sports Authority took in $1.76M and netted $875K by hosting the @NHL Stadium Series game between the Lightning and Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in February. This includes: 🏒$500,000 venue rental fee 🏒$5 facility fee on each ticket sold 🏒Ticket surcharge equal to 8% of the price of each ticket, not to exceed $2.50 per ticket 🏒20% of merchandise sales revenue sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

NEWS: MLS has received a formal offer to buy the Vancouver Whitecaps from a prospective owner who intends to move the team to Las Vegas. The news has created a groundswell of support from fans in an attempt to keep the team in Vancouver. Read more: nytimes.com/athletic/72440…

FIFA revealed $2.6 billion in revenue in 2025, $225 mil over budget. FIFA is $13 billion ahead of revenues for 2023-26 cycle, with 93% of budgeted revenue already contracted, and were $292m below budgeted expenses. FIFA project a total revenue of $14 billion for 2027-2030.

Gianni Infantino begins his address at the FIFA Congress by saying Iran "will be participating at the FIFA World Cup 2026" and "will play in the United States of America."

@FavianRenkel What did the initial tweet say?

Don Garber was hacked.

I've been following FIFA's efforts to secure tax-exempt status for member associations participating in the World Cup this summer. This is the first of hearing of some sort of blanket exemption for all participating teams. Interested to see whether this comes to fruition.

The increased financial distributions will be a big relief for federations participating in the World Cup, as many have been concerned that their preparation and prize money would not be enough to cover their expenses and the tax burden associated with playing in the U.S.

Stacy Johns, who joined NWSL club Bay FC as CEO in March, is leaving to instead serve as president of the WNBA's L.A. Sparks. My colleague @TomFriendWriter has details at @SBJ. sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

Sources: FIFA wanted level 4 motorcade escort for its president while in Vancouver (ability to go through traffic lights). That’s 1 level below the pope - but on par with 🇺🇸 president - and higher than 🇨🇦 PM. The request was denied. #bcpoli @GlobalBC @CUrquhartGlobal

A special committee of MLS owners met to discuss future of the Vancouver Whitecaps, including possibility of relocation, sources tell @PaulTenorio & I Las Vegas the chief option discussed MLS has had discussions w/ a group looking to bring a team to LV nytimes.com/athletic/72337…

FIFA’s dynamic ticket pricing has been criticized in the lead-up to the World Cup. But when it comes to hotel rooms, the governing body is taking a different approach, undercutting the open market in many host cities using fixed pricing. Details at @SBJ: sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…

Exclusively at @SBJ: Only 12,000 people have opted in to the FIFA PASS to receive an expedited U.S. visa interview appointment for the World Cup. While not a perfect proxy, it’s the last signal that the anticipated spike in tourism may not be materializing. sportsbusinessjournal.com/Articles/2026/…