News Focus
- Thirteen out of twenty Premier League clubs now have American owners or investors
- US business people find English clubs much cheaper than NFL or NBA teams
- Fans protest against rising ticket prices at American-owned clubs
- The 2026 World Cup is boosting football’s popularity in the United States
- Experts warn that American owners may change the rules to allow more TV adverts
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico. This tournament is making football more popular in America. However, US business people have already been buying English football clubs for many years.
Thirteen out of twenty Premier League clubs now have American investors. This includes famous teams like Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United. Across Europe’s top five leagues, nearly one-third of clubs have American owners.
This trend started after the 2008 financial crisis. The American economy recovered faster than Europe’s economy. This created many new millionaires and billionaires in the USA. They wanted to invest in sports teams.
Buying an NFL team costs between five and ten billion dollars. There are only a limited number of teams, and current owners rarely want to sell. English football clubs cost much less. Even a big club like Newcastle United is worth less than the cheapest NHL team in America.
American sports work differently from English football. The NFL has no relegation. Teams stay in the league even if they play badly. They also have systems to share talent equally. This makes investing safer for owners.
Television coverage is another big difference. American sports stop frequently for advertising breaks. Football matches run for forty-five minutes without stops. This means TV companies pay less for football rights. Some experts worry that American owners will try to change football to fit the American model.
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has suggested an All-Star game. This is common in American sports. Some stadiums now use entertainment cameras during matches. Traditional fans dislike these changes.
Ticket prices have risen at clubs with American owners. Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton fans have all protested against price increases. The Arsenal Supporters Trust called this the “American model” of taking more money from fans.
Finance expert Kieran Maguire says American owners think British clubs do not use their assets fully. They believe English football is too traditional. Investment expert Adam Sommerfeld says Americans create good entertainment. He believes this makes the match day experience better for supporters.
As the World Cup approaches, American influence on English football will likely grow stronger. Kenyan fans watching the Premier League should expect more changes in the coming years.