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Forbes
11 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Women's Soccer Set To Be Fifth Most Popular Sport In The World By 2030
A new report by Nielsen Sports and PepsiCo suggests that women's soccer is on course to reach 800 million fans by 2030 and become the fifth biggest sport in the world. Undervalued to Unstoppable – leverages data from Nielsen Sports, the global leader in fan intelligence and sponsorship analytics, and PepsiCo, one of the leading investors in women's sport. They predict a 38% increase in the reach of women's soccer in the next five years and highlight the opportunity for sponsors to capitalise on a unique opportunity to tap into an affluent new market based on the demographics of that audience. Over the course of six years, the study noted down respondents who replied 'interested' or 'very interested' in women's soccer. Currently the sport has, according to Nielsen Sports, the tenth largest global fanbase behind men's soccer, basketball, swimming, Formula One, Track and Field, tennis, volleyball, cycling and badmint. The study concludes that, based on the currently trajectory of growth, women's soccer will enter the top five by the end of the decade. The projected growth is expected to spike in every other year, coinciding with major women's international tournaments. In 2029, the year of the next UEFA Women's Euro, they predict the global fanbase for the game will exceed 800 million before levelling off in 2030. While in terms of numbers, women's soccer has the potential to rival Formula One and tennis, it currently lags behind those sports in terms of global sponsorship deals. There is greater fluctuation in activity betweem major tournaments and this season there has a decline in attendances in the Women's Super League and UEFA Women's Champions League. The report states that "turning growth into permanence will require investment across the entire ecosystem." Europe is seen as the powerhouse in driving the growth of the women's game. Within the United Kingdom, fan interest in the women's game doubled between January and July 2022 ahead of the UEFA Women's Euro hosted by England. With Switzerland staging the competition this year, there has been a 22% increase there in appreciation of the game. In terms of participation, player numbers in France have surged by 150% in the past five years and 95% in Spain. In China there has been a staggering 300% rise in girls participating in the sport with an estimated 186 million new fans of the game over the last five years. The research shows those who play the sport are 26% more likely to be dedicated fans. However, none of the five countries believed to have the largest proportion of women's soccer fans amongst their demographics are European. With 50% of their population following the women's game, Colombia, quarter-finalists at the last Women's World Cup, lead the way ahead of the United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Brazil and India. Half of all women's soccer fans are also aged between 25-44. This is above the 44% average for other sports and data indicates that 47% of that group belong to the top income bracket (against 37% of the general population). All of this suggests that sponsors have the potential to capture the most commercially valuable audience in sport. Back in 2019, 57% of women's soccer fans were male. However, the research indicates that the split equalised in 2024 and by the end of the decade will skew in the opposite direction with 60% of the sport's fans expected to be female. PepsiCo became the first sponsor of the men's Champions League to support the women's game in 2019. From next season, Pepsi will, for the first time, replicate it's glitzy 'kick-off show' for the showpiece men's game at a UEFA Women's Champions League final in Oslo. This will be expanded into the UEFA Women's Euro in 2029. They hope to utilise the cross-over interests of women's soccer fans. The data indictes that two-thirds of them are also dedicated fans of music and video games, compared to less than half of general sports fans. This opens the door for brands in these adjacent markets to reach the women's soccer market. 'At PepsiCo, we see women's football as more than just a sport,' said Jane Wakley, EVP & Chief Consumer Marketing Officer & Chief Growth Officer, International Foods at PepsiCo. "It's a cultural force with the power to connect, inspire and grow our brands. As a business, we're proud to partner with UEFA Women's Football, the FIFA Women's World Cup, the WNBA and leading athletes across the world, because we know these platforms unlock powerful passion points for an increasingly engaged and influential audience.' Samantha Lamberti, Head of International at Nielsen Sports, concluded that "we have long believed in the potential of women's football, and today, we're no longer just tracking progress, we're witnessing a breakthrough. From media rights to sponsorship and fan engagement, this is no longer a case of future promise but present value.'
Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Fans who hung effigy of Vinicius Júnior from a bridge convicted of hate crime in Spain
MADRID — A Spanish court has convicted four people who hung an effigy of Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior off a highway bridge two years ago, the league said on Monday. The defendants were found guilty of hate crimes after hanging a black figure , with Vinícius' name on it, in the Spanish capital before a Copa del Rey match against rival Atletico Madrid in January 2023. Along with the effigy that was hung by its neck, there was a banner with the words 'Madrid hates Real.' A defendant who disseminated images of the act online was sentenced to 15 months in prison for a hate crime, and seven months for threats. The other three defendants were each sentenced to seven months in prison for hate crimes and seven months for threats. The four of them must complete a training program on equal treatment and non-discrimination to have their prison sentences suspended. All were also fined and prohibited from coming within 1,000 meters (3,200 feet) of Vinícius, his residence and Madrid's training center. They also can't get within 1,000 meters of soccer stadiums from four hours before and four hours after matches being organized by the league or the Spanish soccer federation. They were additionally prohibited from having any form of communication with Vinícius for a period of four years from the end of the prison term. Prosecutors had said the four people belonged to a hardcore Atletico fan group that is 'ideologically identified with the extreme right.' All defendants signed a letter of apology addressed to Vinícius, Real Madrid, the Spanish league and the Spanish federation, which led to mitigation for damage reparation. The Spanish league was on the case as a private prosecutor. In May, five Valladolid fans who racially insulted Vinícius in 2022 were found guilty in what the league said at the time was the first ruling in Spain that condemned racist insults in a soccer stadium as a hate crime. Last year, three Valencia fans were handed eight-month prison sentences after pleading guilty to racially insulting Vinícius in a 2023 match, in what had been the first conviction for racism-related cases in professional soccer in Spain, though it was not based on a hate crime. The Valencia fans were convicted of a crime against moral integrity, with the aggravating circumstance of discrimination based on racist motives. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Longest championship droughts and playoff droughts in NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL
What is the longest championship drought ever? While there are great dynasties throughout sports history, plenty of NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB teams have gone decades without being on top of the world. Whether curses are to blame or just bad management and worse luck, fans put up with a lot. For many of these teams, these streaks of decades without a championship extend beyond one generation. Fans growing up as children hoping desperately to see their favorite club they were raised to support one day lift the banner declaring the champions. Time flies by and those same fans are capturing their children and even grandchildren in that same feeling. Advertisement Of course, some have it worse than others. While championship droughts are the focus, some fan bases have gone more than a decade without even seeing their team in the playoffs. It's one thing to never hoist the championship trophy and witness a parade, but not even experiencing the brief second of joy from a playoff game makes rooting for teams even more painful. Longest active playoff droughts in sports New York Jets (NFL) – 14 years Buffalo Sabres (NHL) – 13 years Los Angeles Angels (MLB) – 10 years Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB) – 9 years Charlotte Hornets (NBA) – 8 years Detroit Red Wings (NHL) – 8 years Here are the longest championship droughts and playoff droughts in the four major American professional sports. Longest championship drought in NFL Syndication: Arizona Republic The Arizona Cardinals have the longest championship drought in the NFL, with their last title coming in 1947 as the Chicago Cardinals. While the Cardinals appeared in Super Bowl XLIII in 2009, their lone Super Bowl appearance, this organization has never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Advertisement Some believe a curse is a reason for this title drought. Back in 1925, the Cardinals faced the Pottsville Maroons in the 1925 NFL Championship game. Pottsville won the game 21-7, a win that should have secured the championship. However, they were stripped of the title and the Maroons were suspended by the NFL for playing an exhibition game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The NFL then gave the title to the Cardinals. Of course, the Cardinals aren't the only franchise with a championship drought beyond 50 years. The Detroit Lions are one of seven teams without a Super Bowl win. The last time the Lions won a championship came in 1957, when they defeated the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game. Also Read:: NFL teams that have never won a Super Bowl Longest NFL playoff droughts right now New York Jets – 14 seasons Carolina Panthers – 7 seasons Atlanta Falcons – 6 seasons New Orleans Saints – 4 seasons Chicago Bears – 4 seasons Longest NFL playoff droughts of all time Cardinals – 25 seasons – (1949-1974) Commanders – 25 seasons – (1946-1971) Steelers – 24 seasons – (1948-1972) Saints – 20 seasons – (1967-1987) Browns – 17 seasons – (2003-2020) Advertisement The New York Jets signed Aaron Rodgers before the 2023 season, hoping he would end the longest playoff drought in the NFL. Instead, the Jets missed the playoffs in 2023 after he suffered an Achilles tear in Week 1. One year later, after firing their general manager and head coach, the Jets were eliminated from NFL playoff contention in 2024 following a Week 14 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In the 2027 NFL season, the jets can tie the Cleveland Browns for the fifth-longest NFL playoff drought ever. On Dec. 24, 2023, the Detroit Lions officially won the NFC North for the first time in franchise history. The Lions had a six-year playoff drought entering the 2023 season, with many believing the streak would end this year. Sure enough, a streak of 29 consecutive seasons without a division title has come to a close. Who has the longest NFL playoff drought? The New York Jets have the longest active playoff drought in the NFL, having missed the playoffs in 14 consecutive seasons. The Jets last playoff appearance came in the 2020 AFC Championship Game and the Jets last playoff win came in the 2010 AFC Divisional Round. Longest World Series drought in MLB MLB: World Series-Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians have the longest active championship drought in MLB, with their last World Series title coming in 1948. Cleveland reached the World Series multiple times (1954, '95, '97 and 2016). Ironically, the 2016 World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs snapped the longest championship drought ever, with the Cubs going 107 years without a title. Longest championship droughts in MLB Cleveland Guardians – 75 years Milwaukee Brewers – 56 years San Diego Padres – 56 years Seattle Mariners – 48 years Pittsburgh Pirates – 45 years Baltimore Orioles – 41 years Detroit Tigers – 40 years New York Mets – 38 years Oakland Athletics – 35 years Cincinnati Reds – 34 years Minnesota Twins – 33 years Colorado Rockies – 32 years Toronto Blue Jays – 31 years Advertisement While the Seattle Mariners are far behind some others in the length of their title drought, they are in MLB history for another unfortunate reason. The Mariners went 20 years without reaching the MLB playoffs, it was the longest active postseason drought in the top four American men's sports before they made the playoffs in 2022. In 2023, the Texas Rangers won their first World Series title in franchise history. The Rangers franchise first started playing in Texas at the start of the 1972 season, so the Texas franchise did not have one of the longest championship droughts in MLB. How many MLB teams have never won a World Series? Entering the 2025 season, five MLB teams have never won the World Series and the Seattle Mariners are the one franchise to never appear in a World Series. What MLB teams have never won a World Series? The San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies have never won the World Series. Longest MLB playoff droughts of all time Nationals – 29 years – (1982-2011) Royals – 27 years – (1986-2013) Rangers – 26 years – (1969-1995) Guardians – 25 years (1969-1993) Brewers – 24 years – (1983-2007) Longest MLB playoff drought current Los Angeles Angels – 10 years Pittsburgh Pirates – 9 years Colorado Rockies – 6 years Washington Nationals – 5 years Chicago Cubs – 4 years Advertisement The Seattle Mariners snapped one of the longest playoff droughts ever in 2022, making it into the MLB postseason for the first time in two decades. The Mariners last made the playoffs in 2001, an unforgettable season for the team. Seattle tied the record for the most wins in an MLB season (116), but lost in the American League Championship Series to the New York Yankees. Seattle then went 20 years without making it back to the postseason, but that streak is now over. When the Mariners hosted the Houston Astros in Game 3 of the American League Division Series in 2022, it was Seattle's first MLB playoff game since Oct. 18, 2001. In 2024, the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals snapped their postseason droughts. In each of the last three seasons, some of the longest MLB playoff droughts have been snapped. What is the longest MLB playoff drought? The Los Angeles Angels have the longest active playoff drought in MLB, having not made the playoffs in 10 years. The Angels last made the playoffs in 2015 and their last postseason series victory came in 2009. NBA teams with the longest championship droughts NBA: Phoenix Suns at Sacramento Kings The Sacramento Kings have the longest championship drought in the NBA and had one of the longest playoff droughts in American sports prior to last season. It's par for the course from a team that has battled to even reach mediocrity during its best seasons in the last two decades. Advertisement Basketball fans must go all the way back to the 1951 NBA to find the last Kings' championship. Keep in mind, that this happened when this franchise played in Rochester, New York as the Rochester Royals. The Royals beat the New York Knicks in seven games to win the 1951 NBA Finals. Also Read:: Who is the oldest NBA player? (All-time and active) The Kings also have one of the longest playoff droughts in American professional sports. Following the 2021-'22 NBA season, Sacramento has missed the playoff in 16 consecutive seasons. It is the longest playoff drought in NBA history, surpassing the Los Angeles Clippers (15, 1977-19992) and Minnesota Timberwolves (13, 2005-'18). Longest championship droughts in NBA Sacramento Kings – 74 years Atlanta Hawks – 67 years Phoenix Suns – 57 years Los Angeles Clippers – 55 years New York Knicks – 52 years Utah Jazz – 51 years Indiana Pacers – 49 years Brooklyn Nets – 49 years Portland Trail Blazers – 48 years Washington Wizards – 47 years Oklahoma City Thunder – 46 years Philadelphia 76ers – 42 years Orlando Magi – 36 years Minnesota Timberwolves – 36 years Houston Rockets – 30 years Advertisement The Phoenix Suns have the longest championship drought by a team without a single title. There are 10 NBA teams that have never won a championship in league history. The Boston Celtics ended their 16-year championship drought after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Notably, prior to winning the NBA Finals, Boston sports teams were in the midst of their second-longest championship drought ever. Which NBA team has the longest championship drought? The Sacramento Kings have the longest championship drought in NBA history at 74 years. When the Kings last won a championship in 1951, they were known as the Rochester Royals. Have the Nuggets ever won a championship? The Denver Nuggets won their first NBA title in 2023 with a win over the Miami Heat in five games. Previously, Denver was one of the NBA teams with the longest championship droughts. Longest playoff droughts in NBA Charlotte Hornets – 9 seasons San Antonio Spurs – 6 seasons Portland Trail Blazers – 4 seasons Washington Wizards – 4 seasons Utah Jazz – 3 seasons Toronto Raptors – 3 seasons Chicago Bulls – 3 seasons Advertisement The Sacramento Kings ended their 16-year playoff drought in 2023, hosting a series in the Western Conference against the Golden State Warriors. Sacramento ended the longest playoff drought in the NBA as did the Cleveland Cavaliers (four years). It was also the first time the Cavaliers made the playoffs without LeBron James since 1998. In 2025, the Detroit Pistons (five seasons) and Houston Rockets (four seasons) ended two of the longest NBA playoff droughts with both advance to the first round of the NBA playoffs. Longest Stanley Cup title drought in NHL NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Tampa Bay Lightning at Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs have the longest championship drought in the NHL, a massive fall for a dynasty. From 1917-'67, Toronto won the Stanley Cup finals 13 times, they still have the second-most Stanley Cup wins in NHL history. Advertisement Unfortunately, the wheels have fallen off in recent decades. The Maple Leafs have now gone 55 years without being crowned NHL champions. To make matters worse, this team isn't even coming close to the Stanley Cup finals. In fact, the last time Toronto hosted an Eastern Conference finals game came in 2002. At least the Maple Leafs aren't totally alone. The Buffalo Sabres and Vancouver Canucks are the other NHL teams to go 50-plus years without winning the Stanley Cup. Sadly for hockey fans in Philly, the Philadelphia Flyers aren't far behind. Buffalo's future is bright, but it is currently riding the longest playoff drought in NHL history with 11 consecutive seasons without an appearance in the NHL playoffs. Longest championship droughts in NHL history Toronto Maple Leafs – 57 years – ACTIVE Buffalo Sabres – 55 years – ACTIVE New York Rangers – 53 years (1941-1994) Vancouver Canucks – 53 years – ACTIVE St. Louis Blues – 53 years – (1968-2019) Philadelphia Flyers – 49 years – ACTIVE Chicago Blackhawks – 48 years – (1962-2010) The Toronto Maple Leafs have the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history. The Maple Leafs now haven't won the Stanley Cup in 56 years. The last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup was in 1967. Longest playoff droughts in NHL right now Buffalo Sabres – 14 years Detroit Red Wings – 9 years Ottawa Senators – 7 years Anaheim Ducks – 7 years San Jose Sharks – 6 seasons Advertisement The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active playoff drought in the NHL at 13 seasons. The Sabres last played in the NHL playoffs in 2011. The Sabres hold the record for the longest playoff drought in NHL history. In 2025, the Ottawa Senators snapped a seven-year playoff drought by reaching the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Toronto Maple Leafs, who have the longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history.
New York Times
19-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Mirtle: The Maple Leafs imploded again. How they lost shows what needs to change
Greetings. Thanks for being here. Again. We are gathered here today to remember a hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and its truly remarkable era of non-success (2016-25). On Sunday night, they died as they had lived over the past nine years, showing enough promise that they were 'different' to draw everyone in before imploding in spectacular fashion in the biggest moments of their season. Advertisement (Official cause of death this time: mauled by Panther.) Though these Leafs are now gone, they will always live on in our hearts, remembered not-all-that-fondly for winning a ton of regular-season games, piling up individual accolades (and cap hits), and coming up small whenever a true showing of determination and fortitude was needed. May they rest in peace. If you want a silver lining here, after a brutal 6-1 loss in Game 7, I can offer you only this: The Leafs left no grey area here. No one who watched this series can come away convinced that they are 'this close' to breaking through. No one can defend the status quo. If there was lingering doubt that this group was different than the ones that lost their previous six winner-take-all games, it was obliterated by Toronto's two worst performances of the season in Game 5 and Game 7. This was a series that was right there, after they caught Florida off guard in the first three games. It was then given away with successively weaker performances. The deep frustration that has been building in this fan base over the past six or seven years is now so obvious and unavoidable, for the players, coaches, management, and — perhaps most importantly — ownership, that major change is needed. That was hammered home rather emphatically when the fans in attendance threw jerseys on the ice and booed the Leafs off of it repeatedly, two home games in a row. Jerseys have hit the ice in Toronto — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 19, 2025 'For me, it's all between the ears,' head coach Craig Berube said of his team's performance in those games. 'It's a mindset. These guys are capable of doing it. You've just got to execute it. And we didn't execute it … That's the bottom line.' He was also asked if the composition of this team's roster needs to change to 'have more fire in it.' Advertisement 'I think this team has fire,' Berube said. 'I can't explain (what happened) right now, nor do I want to, (with Game) 5 and (Game) 7 at home. Obviously (there are) things that we have to look at and talk about as an organization.' Frankly, it's a long list. And the fact that they waited so long makes it that much harder. The Leafs only scored 17 goals in the series, 2.43 per game, and only four of them came in the final four games. The power play — with four of the highest-paid players in the NHL on the top unit — converted at only 10 percent. They were heavily outshot and outplayed with the series on the line multiple times, but most egregiously in Game 7, when Florida ran them out of the rink in outshooting them 18-5 in the second period. Toronto's $47 million Core Four group of forwards scored only once in four games after Game 3, following a pattern late in series that's persisted for years, where they get tighter and less effective the more that is on the line. When it happened in 2018 and 2019, the excuse was that this was a young team up against a very strong opponent in the then-dominant Boston Bruins. When it happened in 2020 and 2021, against lesser competition, the conversation was over whether these were anomalies, due to a hot goalie or bad luck, and if a change to the mix around them was needed to get the most out of their still-learning stars. But the debate over whether they needed a true heart transplant at the top of the lineup started in earnest two or three years ago, after they didn't learn anything following frittering away that 3-1 series lead against the Montreal Canadiens. That upper management dug in and held on, changing everything but the main pieces of the roster through what's now four more ugly losses, has led us to here. There's no more debate to be had about the transplant. The question is how to make it happen and how radical the surgery needs to be. Advertisement And, vitally: Who will be making the decisions? Team president Brendan Shanahan has felt like a dead man walking here for a while now, in the final year of his contract and barely visible around the management team. It's hard to imagine a world where he's retained after 11 years at the helm. It's also difficult to see how they can bring back Mitch Marner after another tough postseason, not when a contract couldn't get signed all year, they tried to trade him at the deadline, and with free agency set to open 43 days from now. Do you also cut loose John Tavares, the 34-year-old heart-and-soul former captain also set to become a free agent? Or does retaining him at a deep hometown discount still make sense after a series where he had one even-strength point in seven games — and only three all postseason? Those are the top-line, big-picture questions, but they're far from the only ones. Auston Matthews and Morgan Rielly, two of the team's leaders, also underperformed and have big contracts with no-movement clauses. The supporting cast couldn't contribute enough when it counted, especially compared to all the goals the Panthers got down the lineup as the series wore on. (Six Leafs forwards finished without a single goal through 13 postseason games despite playing almost every single night.) And it didn't help that Toronto had more than $6 million in free-agent misfires sitting in the press box between David Kämpf, Jani Hakanpää, Ryan Reaves and Nick Robertson. We'll do a fuller accounting of the looming roster decisions and what comes next in the days to come. But what I'll finish with here is that I know there will still be some defenders of this Leafs team, given the way they changed their game stylistically, finished fourth overall during the season and lost in a Game 7 to the defending champs. If this had been a one-off performance, I could understand some of the texts I've received from hockey people around the league the past few days questioning whether they need to be radically reworked. But this was hardly a one-off. And the reality is that to win the Stanley Cup, you have to beat quality teams, again and again, in big games. When Brad Marchand met with the media here in Toronto in the aftermath of Game 7, he pointed out that for the Panthers, this wasn't even really a big game. Not after they'd won a championship in Game 7 last June, stifling a powerhouse Edmonton Oilers team after losing three straight, with infamy awaiting if they'd lost. Advertisement That was a big game, Marchand said. This one was just a stepping stone to get to the ones that truly matter. Florida played this game on Sunday night like it was easy. Like it was made for them. The Leafs played it like it was impossible. Like it broke them. You look at the final four teams left standing here, with Florida set to meet the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final and Edmonton about to take on the Dallas Stars in the West, and the bar they've set as organizations is that it's Stanley Cup or bust every year. Their roads to that goal will, in many cases, go through two or three very good teams, with clutch performances needed throughout the lineup in games 6 and 7 to pull it off. They all have a great shot at glory, too. The Leafs seem so far away from all of that, even if, on paper, this series was close. They lost by one game, sure, but if you never show up for the ones that count, does it matter how many you lose by? I don't think so. And, finally, mercifully, for this fan base, there's no way anyone at the top can either.
