Held in Miami, Confet USA brought together investors, leaders, managers and experts to discuss the present and future of the football industry. The proposal was clear: to foster the development of sport based on good international practices. Over the course of two days of debate, it is evident that football is experiencing a transition: it is no longer passionate to consolidate itself as a strategic, financial and engagement asset on a global scale.
Among the highlights, the Multiclube (MCOS) groups were protagonists. Today, there are more than 140 conglomerates that control about 400 clubs around the world. With corporate logic, these groups operate from technical synergies, shared talent development and unified trade strategies. One of the most debated models was Eagle Football, which acts with a single box between Botafogo and Lyon. The practice, although efficient from a financial point of view, raises issues on regulation and sports integrity, an agenda that still walks slowly in much of Latin America.
The advance of MCOS shows that football is increasingly seen as a portfolio asset. And this requires clubs – and countries – a legal and operational structure capable of attracting qualified capital. Brazil took important steps with the SAF model, but still needs to evolve at points such as governance, legal certainty and clarity in the rights between clubs and investors. During Confit, there was consensus that the creation of a strong national league with centralization of rights, compliance (read: financial fair play) and strategic planning, will be decisive to attract the great global players.
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Latin America, by the way, was repeatedly cited as the next boundary of global football growth. The appetite for clubs in the region is high, especially due to sports potential, fans engagement and asset enhancement. Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Chile already arouse the interest of investors, but Brazil remains the market with the highest return potential as long as it advances in its internal organization.
Data show that the 20 largest Brazilian clubs generated R $ 10.9 billion in revenues in 2024, growth of 22% compared to 2023, with commercial sponsorships and sports betting companies playing prominent role. In 2025, contracts with bookmakers should exceed $ 1 billion – a jump of more than 30% over the previous year.
In the sports field, the discussions on technical management were also highlighted. The American model, with a well-structured training process, from high-school to college student, integration with the transition to professional and long-term vision, was pointed out as an example to be observed.
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In the case of football, the US has been seeking to approach the global training model and, as part of this process, the newly created MLS Next and MLS Next Pro came not only form players, but build assets that generate technical and financial return. Already in MLS the presence of names like Messi and Suárez shows how brand construction involves sports and narratives that mobilize local and global audiences.
Although optimism predominates, Confit also warned of the risk of unregulated advance. The lack of criteria on cross ownership, financial fair play and transparency can compromise the integrity of the game. Recent cases in the Premier League and the French League show that enforcement and clear rules are fundamental to system credibility. Brazil, when advancing in the SAFs and the creation of the League, should include safeguards that avoid conflicts of interest and ensure competitiveness.
Clubs such as Cruzeiro, Vasco, Botafogo and Bahia already live different transition stages for the SAF model. These are important movements to understand the impact of professionalization on the sports, administrative and financial structure of the entities. However, the consolidation of this new cycle depends on an ecosystem that goes beyond the four lines: regulatory environment, management transparency, talent formation, infrastructure investment and integration with the capital market.
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The synthesis that Confit leaves us is evident: football no longer fits in amateur structures. Whether in management, relationship with the fan or sports governance, the game requires a new mindset – and new models. Brazil has a unique opportunity window to learn from international experiences, adapt solutions and lead the transformation of football in Latin America.
