MCO in global football: Expansion trends and guardrails for the future

11 February 2026

The past season has kept UEFA and FIFA busy both on the pitch and in the courtroom, as disputes over Multi-Club Ownership (MCO) surged. MCO is rapidly emerging as one of the most sophisticated models in global sport – integrating performance, infrastructure and capital into a scalable, platform-driven strategy.

By early 2025, some 147 investment groups controlled almost 400 clubs worldwide, up from 60 groups and 156 clubs in 2021. A recent example is QSI’s acquisition of historic Belgian club KAS Eupen, adding to its portfolio alongside PSG and Sporting Clube de Braga.

This growing complexity underscores the need for meticulous compliance with evolving regulations to avoid costly legal challenges.

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