Off The Pitch projects France to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after simulating the tournament 10,000 times. Using our squad valuations and the tournament’s predetermined bracket, our model assigns @equipedefrance a 14.26% probability of lifting the trophy next month. Check out our free-to-read analysis and make sure to stay tuned as we update the predictions on our website throughout the tournament. offthepitch.com/a/pitch-mode…

The @FIFAWorldCup gets underway in a few hours. Ahead of kick-off, we selected one player from each group worth following during the tournament. The criteria: aged 23 or under and not yet established as global stars. Here are our 12 picks. 👇 #WeAre26 #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup2026

As attention shifts towards the 2026 World Cup, Off The Pitch’s latest financial efficiency rankings provide a final look back at the 2025/26 club season. Off The Pitch’s end-of-season efficiency rankings compare actual points totals with expected performance based on each club’s financial profile. @Coventry_City recorded the strongest overperformance across Europe’s top five leagues and the Championship, finishing 39.23 points above expectation. Meanwhile, clubs including @ChelseaFC, @LFC, @SpursOfficial, @juventusfc and @PSG_inside failed to match what their financial profiles suggested they should deliver. See the overperformers across europe below, and find the full analysis here: offthepitch.com/a/expected-v…

Today, Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal Football Club meet in a @ChampionsLeague final between two champions trying to make success last. @PSG_inside won the Champions League last year, so the question is no longer whether their post-superstar model works, but whether it can define an era. @Arsenal arrive as @premierleague champions, built through years of patient investment and now chasing the one trophy still missing. #FootballFinance

A record nine clubs won a first league title in at least a decade this season despite being outspent by domestic rivals, challenging the growing predictability across European mid-tier leagues. offthepitch.com/a/europes-re…

Tonight, @USCremonese host @Como_1907 in @SerieA with survival pressure on one side and @ChampionsLeague ambition on the other. Como's squad value is more than ten times Cremonese’s, with spending and wages geared for their push for Europe, and far outspending Cremonese despite them achieving higher turnover and running a more sustainable model.

The Mexican @LigaBBVAMX has attracted growing US investor interest ahead of the 2026 World Cup. @Club_Queretaro's sale to @MarcESpiegel and Innovatio Capital, reportedly valued at €105m, alongside other recent US investments, underlines how active the Mexican football market has become. The combination of a large domestic audience, access to a Mexican-American market of around 40 million people and the suspension of relegation has reduced downside risk and strengthened the league’s commercial profile, Spiegel argues. offthepitch.com/a/us-investo…

The proposed takeover of Sevilla FC by the consortium fronted by Sergio Ramos and Five Eleven Capital is in serious doubt after concerns over funding emerged between sellers, according to a source close to the matter who expects the deal to collapse. Last week, multiple media outlets reported that a €444 million deal had been agreed in principle ahead of the exclusivity period ending on 31 May, after a letter of intent was signed in January, with the bidder said to have provided proof of funding. However, according to the person familiar with the matter, evidence that the consortium actually has the funds available has yet to be delivered, which is highly unusual for a deal of this profile at such an advanced stage. The source added that he would be “surprised” if the takeover were to proceed. offthepitch.com/a/thursday-b…

Off The Pitch can confirm that doubts have arisen over the funding behind the deal between Sevilla FC and the consortium fronted by Sergio Ramos, which is backed by Five Eleven Capital. According to a source close to the matter, the proof of funding provided by the bidder consisted only of a document stating the consortium’s intention to buy the Spanish club and declaring that the group has the necessary funds, without evidence of money held in escrow or bank statements showing the funds are available. The source said this is highly unusual for a deal of this profile at such an advanced stage, adding that he would be “surprised” if the takeover were to go through.

Every week, Off The Pitch sharpens its financial lens on football's most intriguing fixtures. ​ On Sunday, @OM_Officiel host @staderennais in @Ligue1 with Europe pulling the two clubs in different directions. ​ ​Rennes can still turn a strong season into @ChampionsLeague access, while Marseille’s margin is narrower: win and the @EuropaLeague remains alive, slip and Europe could disappear altogether. #FootballFinance

Italy and Germany’s grip on elite talent is weakening, with @SerieA and @Bundesliga_DE down to five and eight players among the world’s 100 most valuable players. @FIGC has acknowledged structural challenges that have left Italy far from former strength, while @DFL_Official is introducing new measures aimed at improving talent development in German football. offthepitch.com/a/italy-and-…

Every week, Off The Pitch sharpens its financial lens on football's most intriguing fixtures. On Sunday, @CelticFC host @RangersFC in a derby where the title race is no longer just a two-club argument. Celtic are chasing leaders @JamTarts, while Rangers arrive seven points off the summit with little room left for error. One club are fighting to keep control of the race; the other are trying to stay relevant in it. #FootballFinance

Italian football’s structural issues are piling up. Weaker European results, renewed integrity concerns around refereeing and now expenses exceeding revenue. Meanwhile, smaller European leagues are closing in, placing @SerieA's top league status under pressure. offthepitch.com/a/financial-…

Every week, Off The Pitch sharpens its financial lens on football's most intriguing fixtures. On Sunday, @AVFCOfficial host @SpursOfficial in a meeting shaped by European ambitions at one end and avoiding catastrophe at the other. Villa are close to securing @ChampionsLeague football, with a wage bill now above Spurs’. Tottenham generate higher revenue and have a squad valued at over €1 billion, yet their season has drifted into a nervy relegation battle. #FootballFinance

Every week, Off The Pitch sharpens its financial lens on football's most intriguing fixtures. Tonight, @RayoVallecano host @RCSA in a @Conf_League semi final highlighting two versions of modern football. Rayo are operating with controlled spending, a healthy squad cost ratio, and three consecutive years of bottom line profit. Strasbourg arrive representing BlueCo’s MCO-project, with a €471 million squad value, €119 million transfer spend and losses that show the cost of acceleration. #FootballFinance

In 2025, @Glimt generated €57.4m in revenue, far ahead of their Norwegian peers after sustained European growth, with revenues set to rise further after this season’s @ChampionsLeague run. Despite this lead, CEO Frode Thomassen says the club reject fixed sporting and financial targets, focusing instead on performance, cost control and long-term development. offthepitch.com/a/bodoglimt-…

French football’s finances point to a clear structural imbalance. @Ligue1 clubs sees average revenue decline from €142m to €120m while losses expand from €164m to €459m, with costs only marginally reduced in their latest accounts. This leaves clubs facing a difficult trade-off between continued owner funding and cutting wages and spending, with implications for competitiveness. offthepitch.com/a/ligue-1s-s…

Every week, Off The Pitch sharpens its financial lens on football's most intriguing fixtures. Tonight, @ChelseaFC host @ManUtd in a direct fight for @ChampionsLeague qualification. United sit third and on course to return to Europe's top table; Chelsea are sixth, four points adrift of the top five, and have just posted a €312.5 million net loss for 2024/25. With six matchdays left, the difference between fifth and sixth could be worth nine figures. #FootballFinance

Multi-club ownership expansion across the top of global football has stalled after years of rapid growth. According to Off The Pitch’s Multi-club Ownership Database, the total number of clubs linked to MCOs within the world’s top 25 leagues has increased by just 1.5 per cent since the end of 2024/25. offthepitch.com/a/after-year…

Internal MCO transfer activity is declining. A sharp drop in loan deals between affiliated clubs raises questions around a core premise of the strategy - player development pathways. Combined with slower MCO expansion, the hottest trend in football business is losing momentum. offthepitch.com/a/transfer-a…