Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry or companies involved Core Insights - The case revolves around the ownership of CF Pachuca and Club León in relation to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 regulations, particularly concerning multi-club ownership [6][20] - Grupo Pachuca asserts that both clubs operate independently, with separate financial structures and decision-making processes, and emphasizes their commitment to comply with FIFA regulations [4][6][22] - FIFA's new regulations introduced restrictions on multi-club ownership, leading to concerns about the eligibility of both clubs to participate in the tournament [30][34] Summary by Sections Introduction - The case involves CF Pachuca and Club León, both affiliated with the Mexican Football Association and competing in Liga MX [6] Facts of the Case - Grupo Pachuca clarified its operational independence and financial separation between Pachuca and León in a letter to FIFA [4][6] - FIFA's regulations for the Club World Cup 2025 include specific provisions regarding multi-club ownership, which prompted an investigation into the clubs' compliance [7][20] Proceedings Before the FIFA Disciplinary Committee - FIFA initiated disciplinary proceedings against both clubs for potential non-compliance with Article 10 of the regulations, leading to a request for further documentation and clarification [20][22] Respondents' Position - Both clubs argue that they operate independently and have not violated the regulations, emphasizing the lack of evidence from FIFA to support claims of non-compliance [22][29] - Pachuca and León highlight the principles of legal certainty and good faith, arguing that the disciplinary proceedings are unjustified and that they have acted in accordance with previously established regulations [28][34]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Core Insights - The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is expected to generate significant socio-economic impacts, with a total attendance of approximately 3.7 million people and an estimated event-related expenditure of $7.2 billion [8][10] - The overall economic impact is projected to reach $41.3 billion globally, with a gross domestic product (GDP) contribution of $21.1 billion and the creation of 432,000 full-time equivalent jobs [8][39] - The Social Return on Investment (SROI) is calculated at 4.34, indicating that for every dollar invested, society is expected to benefit by $4.34 [9][64] Economic Impact - The macroeconomic analysis estimates the monetary impacts of spending, focusing on indicators such as gross output, GDP, labor income, and employment [14] - The total economic impact in the USA is projected at $17.1 billion, with a GDP contribution of $9.6 billion and 105,000 full-time equivalent jobs created [10][39] - The event is expected to generate direct, indirect, and induced economic contributions, with significant benefits for sectors such as wholesale & retail, accommodation & food, and defense & security [43] Social Impact - The social impact analysis highlights non-financial benefits, including improvements in health, well-being, and social connections within communities [26][71] - The total social benefits are estimated at $3.36 billion, with tourism-related benefits accounting for $2.43 billion, sport benefits at $0.58 billion, and entertainment benefits at $0.35 billion [60][62] - The event is anticipated to foster increased physical activity, leading to long-term health benefits and potential savings in public health costs [72][73] Methodology - The analysis employs the Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodology aligned with OECD guidelines, incorporating stakeholder engagement and outcome mapping [4][9] - Data sources include FIFA expenditure forecasts, tourism reports, and international benchmarks from organizations such as the World Bank and OECD [6][8] - The study utilizes an inter-country Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) to evaluate the economic impact across 45 productive sectors and 76 countries [5][15]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Core Insights - The FIFA World Cup 2026 is expected to have a significant socioeconomic impact, with a total attendance of approximately 6.5 million people and event-related total expenditure estimated at $13.9 billion [8][36] - The overall economic impact is projected to generate a gross output of $80.1 billion globally, with a GDP contribution of $40.9 billion and the creation of 824,000 full-time equivalent jobs [9][43] - The Social Return on Investment (SROI) is calculated at 3.64, indicating that for every dollar invested, society benefits by $3.64 [62] Summary by Sections Scope - The FIFA World Cup 2026 will expand to 48 teams, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, aiming to enhance global participation and competition [2][32] Methodology - The analysis employs Impact Analysis and Social Return on Investment (SROI) methodologies aligned with OECD guidelines, incorporating stakeholder engagement and monetization of benefits [4][28] Economic Impact - The total economic impact includes a gross output of $80.1 billion, with the USA contributing $30.5 billion to GDP and creating 185,000 full-time equivalent jobs [9][43] - The accommodation and food sector is expected to benefit the most, followed by real estate and wholesale and retail sectors [46][47] Social Impact - The event is projected to generate social benefits valued at $8.28 billion, with tourism, sports, and entertainment contributing significantly [58][60] - The SROI for the USA is calculated at 4.03, indicating substantial social returns from investments made for the event [66] Expenditure Breakdown - Total expenditure for the event is estimated at $13.9 billion, with the USA accounting for $11.1 billion, including $6.4 billion from anticipated tourist spending [36][37] Tourism Impact - The influx of visitors is expected to generate billions in economic activity, benefiting hospitality, transportation, and retail sectors, while enhancing the global visibility of host cities [34][38] Employment Generation - The event is anticipated to create 823,474 full-time equivalent jobs globally, with significant contributions from the accommodation and air transport sectors [50][51]

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry or companies involved. Core Insights - The dispute involves the Belgian Royal Football Association (RBFA) and Swiss sports agent Marc Biolley regarding a contract for organizing a friendly match between the Belgian and Egyptian national teams in Kuwait [8][10]. - RBFA claims that MWF (Matchworld Football S.A.) failed to pay a total of €275,000, which was due under the contract, leading to a formal breach notification and subsequent legal action [21][26]. - The contract stipulated that MWF would pay RBFA a total of €1.1 million, divided into four installments, for organizing the match and acquiring commercial and media rights [17][18]. - MWF argues that RBFA sold rights that did not belong to them, as the broadcasting rights were held by UEFA, which complicated the commercialization of the match [46][49]. Summary by Sections Section 1: Case Facts - The parties involved are RBFA (claimant) and Marc Biolley (respondent), who entered into a contract for a friendly match on August 26, 2022 [8][9]. - The contract included provisions for commercial and media rights, which were to be sold to MWF [10][11]. Section 2: Financial Terms - MWF was obligated to pay RBFA a total of €1.1 million, with specific payment schedules outlined [17][18]. - As of December 12, 2022, RBFA had not received the final payment of €275,000, prompting legal action [21][22]. Section 3: Legal Proceedings - RBFA filed a claim with FIFA's Football Tribunal on July 10, 2023, seeking payment and the revocation of Biolley's agent license [26][28]. - MWF counterclaimed for damages, alleging that RBFA's actions caused significant financial losses, estimated at €1,058,539 [28][49]. Section 4: Tribunal's Considerations - The tribunal confirmed the validity of the contract and the obligations of MWF to pay the outstanding amount [71][72]. - The tribunal ruled that MWF must pay RBFA the overdue amount plus interest, while rejecting MWF's counterclaims [98][100].

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The global transfer system is crucial for professional football operations worldwide, with significant regulatory changes in 2024 aimed at enhancing player rights and transparency [9][10][11][12][15] - In 2024, international transfer fees for men's professional football reached USD 8.59 billion, marking the second-highest total ever, with a record 22,779 international transfers [19][20] - Women's professional football saw a record spending of USD 15.6 million on international transfer fees, more than doubling the previous year's amount [108][109] Summary by Sections Men's Professional Football - Global spending on international transfer fees reached USD 8.59 billion in 2024, with 1,100 clubs spending and 1,378 clubs receiving transfer fees [19][20] - The number of international transfers set a new record at 22,779, with a 4.4% increase from the previous year [20] - Transfers with fees accounted for 16.2% of all transfers, the highest proportion recorded [20] - The average transfer fee for players aged 24-29 was USD 2.6 million, while the average age of players transferring was 24.6 years [50][51] - Brazilian players led in transfer fees spent, totaling USD 1.19 billion, followed by players from France and Portugal [66] Women's Professional Football - Total spending on international transfer fees reached USD 15.6 million, with 109 clubs spending and 124 clubs receiving fees [108][109] - The number of international transfers increased to 2,284, a 20.8% rise from the previous year [109] - Fixed fees constituted 89.2% of total transfer fees, with 84.6% of transfers involving players out of contract [117][120] - The average transfer fee was USD 78,200, with players aged 18-23 and 24-29 commanding higher fees [134] Amateur Football - The number of transfers in amateur football reached 53,679, a 4.3% increase from the previous year [180] - The average age of amateur players transferring was 22.3 years, with a significant share of U-18 transfers [184] - Clubs from Germany had the most incoming transfers, totaling 7,459, while they also led in outgoing transfers with 3,995 [194][196]

Industry Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an industry investment rating [1] Core Viewpoints - The report focuses on regulations governing the status and transfer of players, including contracts, third-party influence, and special provisions for female players and minors [4][7][32] - It emphasizes the importance of maintaining contractual stability between professionals and clubs, with specific rules for terminating contracts and compensation [13][14][17] - The report outlines the procedures for international transfers, including the use of the Transfer Matching System (TMS) and training compensation mechanisms [48][57][79] Third-Party Influence and Ownership - Clubs and players are prohibited from entering agreements with third parties that allow participation in future transfer compensation [19] - Existing agreements must be recorded in TMS by the end of April 2015, with full details of the third party, player, and agreement duration [20] Special Provisions for Female Players - Contracts cannot be invalidated based on pregnancy, adoption, or family leave [8] - Clubs must respect female players' rights related to menstrual health, allowing absence from training or matches with full remuneration [31][521] International Transfers Involving Minors - Minors can only be transferred under specific exceptions, such as transfers within the same country or for academic reasons [34][37] - Clubs must provide adequate football education and living standards for minors [11][35] Training Compensation and Solidarity Mechanism - Training compensation is payable when a player is registered as a professional for the first time or transferred before the age of 23 [79] - The solidarity mechanism requires 5% of transfer compensation to be distributed to clubs involved in the player's training [396] Jurisdiction and Dispute Resolution - FIFA has jurisdiction over employment-related disputes between clubs and players of international dimension [29][57] - The Football Tribunal can impose sanctions for breaches of contract, including registration bans and fines [24][466] Annexes and Additional Provisions - Annexes cover the release of players to association teams, employment of coaches, and international transfer procedures [92][170][208] - Temporary rules address the exceptional situation deriving from the war in Ukraine [269]

Event Overview - The 5th FIFA Compliance Summit will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 9 to 10 April 2025 [19] - The event aims to support FIFA's 211 member associations by covering key compliance areas such as compliance programme development, governance, risk management, and internal audit practices [2] - The summit will include presentations and interactive workshops tailored to member associations at various stages of their compliance journeys [2] Event Logistics - The event will be conducted entirely in English with simultaneous interpreting into French and Spanish [3] - FIFA will cover the cost of economy-class travel, visa fees, and accommodation in Rio de Janeiro for the event days [3] - Each member association is invited to send one delegate responsible for compliance matters to attend the event in person [25] Event Programme Highlights Day 1 - 09:00 Official opening by Ednaldo Rodriguez (CBF) and Emilio Garcia Silvero (FIFA) [29] - 09:30 Session on "How to be wildly effective in compliance" by Kristy Grant-Hart [23] - 10:45 Roundtable discussion on "Governance in the sports industry" [33] - 13:30 Workshop on "Future-proof audits – Technology & AI in internal audit" by Anja Zumkeller and Edyta Idzikowska (FIFA) [34] - 16:00 Session on "The Financial Governance Guide" by Christoph Suppiger (FIFA) [30] - 17:00 Closing remarks and group picture [31] - 19:00 Dinner [32] Day 2 - 09:00 Welcome and recap of Day 1 [17] - 09:30 Session on "Beyond the trophy – How good governance drives football excellence" by Mauro Silva (Federação Paulista de Futebol) [8] - 14:30 Workshop on "Goalkeeper's guide to creating a risk management gameplan" by Ken Liddle (FIFA) [9] - 16:00 Feedback session [10] - 16:30 Official closing [18] Additional Information - A formal invitation detailing registration, travel, and accommodation arrangements will follow [20] - For questions, contact Zelin Xu, Independent Committees & Legal Projects Manager, at compliancesummit@fifa.org [26]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - FIFA aims to enhance transparency in the football transfer system through the annual report on football agents, which includes an analysis of agent activities, licensing systems, and relevant updates [5][6] - In 2024, the total service fees for club agents in international transfers for male professional players amounted to USD 709.6 million, marking a decrease of 20.2% from 2023 but still the second-highest total ever recorded [7] - For female professional players, club agents earned just under USD 3.1 million in service fees in 2024, representing a growth of over 2.2 times compared to 2023 and more than six times the level in 2020 [8] Summary by Sections Overview - The report provides an extensive analysis of football agents' activities in international transfers, licensing systems, and updates relevant to football agents [5] Licensing System - FIFA received 19,827 licensing applications in 2024, with 10,887 individuals taking the exam and a pass rate of 40.4% [13] - 1,606 investigations were opened regarding potential non-compliance with eligibility requirements, with approximately 17% leading to license application rejections [14] - A total of 2,616 licenses were provisionally suspended on 1 October 2024, primarily due to non-payment of fees and failure to comply with continuing professional development (CPD) requirements [25][27] Agents in Men's Professional Football - The total spending on club agent service fees reached USD 709.6 million in 2024, a decrease of 20.2% from 2023 [43] - Club agents were involved in 2,185 international transfers, a 6.7% increase from 2023 [45] - UEFA clubs accounted for 85.4% of total spending on club agent service fees in international transfers worldwide [54] Agents in Women's Professional Football - Clubs in women's professional football spent just under USD 3.1 million on club agents in 2024, with a record 184 transfers involving club agents [92] - The number of transfers with player agents increased by 34.5% compared to 2023, reaching 515 transfers, which represents 22.6% of all international transfers in women's football [103] Methodology - The report analyzes international transfers of professional football players from 1 January 2024 to 4 December 2024, using data extracted from the Transfer Matching System (TMS) [110]

Investment Rating - The report does not provide a specific investment rating for the industry Core Insights - Emiliano Martínez is recognized as the top goalkeeper with a scoring point of 26, followed by Ederson with 16 points and Unai Simón with 13 points [4][6] - The voting results indicate a strong preference for Emiliano Martínez among various voting parties, including coaches, captains, media, and fans [4][6][7] Summary by Relevant Sections - **Voting Results**: Emiliano Martínez received the highest points from coaches (518), captains (529), media (512), and fans (515,903) [4] - **Country Representation**: Emiliano Martínez represents Argentina, Ederson represents Brazil, and Unai Simón represents Spain, showcasing a diverse representation in the top rankings [6] - **Voting Breakdown**: The voting breakdown shows that Emiliano Martínez consistently received first-place votes across multiple countries, indicating widespread recognition of his performance [7][8]

FIFA Men's Coach Voting Results - Carlo Ancelotti ranked first with 595 points from coaches, 573 points from captains, 585 points from media, and 910,737 points from fans, totaling 26 scoring points [4] - Xabi Alonso ranked second with 395 points from coaches, 578 points from captains, 476 points from media, and 831,389 points from fans, totaling 22 scoring points [4] - Pep Guardiola ranked third with 301 points from coaches, 356 points from captains, 217 points from media, and 419,960 points from fans, totaling 10 scoring points [4] Top 5 FIFA Men's Coaches by Country - Carlo Ancelotti from Italy ranked first with 26 scoring points [6] - Xabi Alonso from Spain ranked second with 22 scoring points [6] - Pep Guardiola from Spain ranked third with 10 scoring points [6] - Luis de la Fuente from Spain ranked fourth with 9 scoring points [6] - Lionel Scaloni from Argentina ranked fifth with 5 scoring points [6] Voting Breakdown by Country Captains - Captains from various countries voted for Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, and Pep Guardiola as their top three choices, with Ancelotti receiving the most first-place votes [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Media Voting Results - Media representatives from different countries also voted for Carlo Ancelotti, Xabi Alonso, and Pep Guardiola as their top choices, with Ancelotti receiving the highest number of first-place votes [19][20][21][22][23][24][25]