Mohamed Mansour, co-owner of San Diego FC and co-founder of Man Capital says aligning MLS with FIFA's schedule will boost the league's growth as soccer's US fan base surges. He discusses how sports is a strong long-term investment for him.

San Diego

Mansour emphasized the increasing value of sports investments in the United States, citing Major League Soccer's new media partnership with Apple TV and the league's alignment with the FIFA World Schedule as significant positive developments. He noted that club valuations have nearly doubled over the past four to five years, with the upcoming World Cup expected to further boost the sport's profile.

San Diego FC, an expansion team, has exceeded expectations by leading the Western Conference and consistently selling out games, reflecting a growing American soccer fan base. Mansour also stated that the current MLS structure, without promotion and relegation, is effective for league growth, and highlighted the league's progress under Commissioner Don Garber.

Sports is an asset that will grow in the U.S.: Mansour

I'm curious to get your take first of all on the renegotiated media deal that Major League Soccer has done with Apple TV. What's your take. Well I think we have we have a major change has been actually the schedule. Also that the MLS is going to be doing to to equate with the FIFA World Schedule. I think that's going to be a definite plus. I think sports is an asset that's going to grow in the United States. And that's why we took a lead and invested in San Diego. And a third point to San Diego is just the markets an amazing market for us. So as an asset class I believe this is going to be a very good investment for us over the years to come. And if you look at the returns you can see that the MLS the valuation of a lot of the clubs Scarlett has almost doubled in the last four years or five years. So and I expect that that will happen over the coming years especially with the World Cup coming sometime in June and July of this year which will be a game changer. Yes I'm so glad you bring that up to Mohammed. How can the MLS how can San Diego FC maximize the impact of the World Cup. Well by by you know the American fan base increasing it's already by the way. Not many people know this but the American fans the fan base is last year was twelve point one million fans that that watch the games. This is second only to the Premier League. So having the population that you have in the United States and the athleticism in the country and the sportsman like I think it's it's going to be. I think we're at the tip of the iceberg and I think sports will increase in the United States. Soccer will increase in the United States. And that's why we're investing in this amazing city of San Diego. And by the way San Diego Football Club to come out number one in the Western Conference has been you know nobody predicted this. We're an expansion team. Yeah. And we everybody was saying we're going to be number 30. We're number one in the Western Conference. Love it when that happens. One thing that's different about American soccer versus those soccer in Europe is that there is no promotion and relegation. When do you think MLS will add promotion and relegation. And do you think that would be a good thing for the MLS. I don't think so. I think the way the MLS is structured now is great. I think a lot has been done over the 30 years the 30 past years with Don Garber as the as the commissioner. And I think the MLS will grow over the coming years because interest will grow. The clubs have you know are improving year by year and the fan base is improving year by year. For us as an expansion team for example we were getting an average of twenty eight thousand fans that attend our games on the average. In the last four games it's been sold out. Nobody ever expected this. I didn't expect this. But we have a great team a great you know unity resilience and you know the players are doing an amazing job in the management too.

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Breakdown