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Fast-expanding Kings League eyes US launch by 2026
PARIS, June 14 (Reuters) - The Gerard Pique-founded Kings League said on Saturday that it aims to launch its seven-a-side soccer format in the United States by 2026, adding to the list of nations where the online-orientated competition already has a footprint.
At a briefing in Paris, Kings League CEO Djamel Agaoua told reporters that a U.S. Kings League could be launched around the end of this year and start of the next.
"We feel ready to attack the big animal, which is the U.S. market ... we start on the East Coast for operational reasons," said Agaoua, who was in the French capital for the Kings World Cup Clubs final at La Defense Arena on Saturday evening.
Various new buzzy soccer formats, with smaller teams and shorter games than traditional 90-minute football, have sprung up round Europe and elsewhere in recent years, attracting a host of online influencers and former professionals.
With special rules to heighten entertainment, the leagues are attracting major investment and large streaming audiences, even as some traditional fans deride them as a glitzy distortion of the world's favourite sport.
Created by former Spanish international Pique in 2022, the Kings League has expanded fast to Italy, Germany, France and Brazil. It also plans to launch a MENA league for the Middle East and Africa later this year in partnership with Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund's sports arm.
The league estimates a 5-7 million euro ($5.8-$8.1 million) investment in each new market, though the U.S. venture would cost more, Agaoua said. The Kings League raised 60 million euros from investors in its latest funding round last year.
However, it was staying away from China due to regulatory challenges and from the U.K. because streaming, including the Twitch platform, was less developed, the Kings League CEO said at the briefing with Pique.
The Baller League, already in Germany and the UK, also plans to launch its six-a-side format in the U.S. later this year, with online personality iShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., its president.
Pique, 38, a defender who played for Barcelona, told Reuters the existence of rival leagues was not a deterrent.
"In Italy, for example, we had Goa7 League before we arrived ... It doesn't exist anymore," he said.
"We have already two copycats that have created some similar concept ... in Germany, but we decided to go to Germany anyway and we've been there with also great success."
The two competitors in Germany are the Baller League Germany and ICON League, which was set up by ex-player Toni Kroos and content creator Elias Nerlich.
With an eye to videogame rules, the Kings League has novel twists such as 'President Penalties,' which gives club bosses a chance to get on the scoresheet as well as players.
"You have a portion of fans that are a little bit tired of seeing the same thing every year," Agaoua said of traditional soccer. "We estimate that we have probably 60% of our fans that are football fans and 40% that are not football fans that came to football through us."
Pique said 85% of Kings League viewers were under 35, consuming sports via Twitch, YouTube and other social media.
The league says it has generated over 7 billion impressions and 400 million engagements globally on social media.
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