{"id":1654156,"date":"2026-06-11T14:13:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:13:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/observer.com\/?p=1654156"},"modified":"2026-06-11T14:15:59","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T18:15:59","slug":"meet-the-american-billionaires-reshaping-global-soccer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/observer.com\/2026\/06\/meet-the-american-billionaires-reshaping-global-soccer\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the American Billionaires Reshaping Global Soccer"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Jos\u00e9
From left to right: Jos\u00e9 Mas, his father Jorge Mas, Lionel Messi and Sir David Beckham pose after the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Final match between Inter Miami CF and Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Chase Stadium on Dec. 6, 2025 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Elsa\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soccer has long played a secondary role in the American sports landscape, trailing football, basketball and baseball in cultural prominence. Yet as the 2026 World Cup<\/a> arrives on U.S. soil,<\/a> American capital is exerting an outsized influence on the global game.<\/p>\n

An influx of investment from U.S. billionaires underscores a striking contrast: while domestic fandom has historically lagged, American money is deeply embedded in soccer\u2019s worldwide growth. From Premier League giants to Major League Soccer expansion teams, these investors increasingly view the sport as one of the most lucrative frontiers in modern entertainment.<\/p>\n

Over the past two decades, they have funded turnarounds, driven expansion and helped elevate clubs and players to new heights.\u00a0Together, these owners show how American wealth is quietly reshaping the world\u2019s most popular sport.<\/p>\n

Stan Kroenke, real estate mogul<\/b><\/h3>\n

Net worth: <\/b>$22 billion<\/span><\/p>\n

Teams owned: <\/b>Arsenal, Colorado Rapids<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Arsenal