EA SPORTS FC Inks Multi-Year Partnership with the Brazilian Football Confederation

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) have announced a new multi-year licensing and marketing partnership, bringing one of the world’s most iconic football institutions closer to fans through EA SPORTS FC™. Through this collaboration, EA SPORTS FC and CBF will deliver authentic and immersive football experiences, including in-game content across EA SPORTS FC 26 and EA SPORTS FC Mobile, further connecting players to Brazilian football both on and off the pitch.

The announcement was made during Gamescom Latam 2026, reinforcing EA SPORTS FC’s continued commitment to growing football culture and community across Latin America.

Brazil has long been at the heart of global football culture, and this agreement reflects a shared vision to celebrate its legacy while creating new opportunities to engage the next generation of fans.

“Brazil is one of the most passionate and influential football communities in the world,” said Jeff Sharma, VP Brand, EA SPORTS FC. “Partnering with the CBF and bringing the Seleção back in game is truly a monumental moment for our players and for FC. This will allow us to deepen our commitment to players in Brazil and across the world, while continuing to deliver authentic experiences that reflect the unique culture, passion, and talent of Brazilian football.”

The agreement includes licensing rights and joint marketing initiatives, enabling EA SPORTS FC and CBF to collaborate on storytelling, fan engagement, and new experiences.

“This partnership with EA SPORTS represents an important step in expanding how fans connect with Brazilian football,” said Samir Xaud, president at CBF. “Together, we will create new ways to celebrate our National Team, our players, and our legacy with millions of fans around the world.”

iSportConnect Announces Strategic Partnership with Proem Sports

iSportConnect, the world’s largest private network of sports business executives, has announced a strategic partnership with Proem Sports, a Fan Data & Engagement Platform built specifically for the sports industry.

As sports organisations navigate an increasingly data-driven landscape, the ability to translate fan interest into sustained engagement and long-term value has become a central challenge. This partnership brings together iSportConnect’s global network of industry leaders and Proem Sports’ applied expertise in fan data to help organisations better understand and respond to evolving fan behaviour.

Together, the organisations will work to surface practical insights, share emerging best practices, and support sports properties in bridging the gap between fan connection and consistent participation over time.

Proem Sports brings deep operational experience across 30+ seasons of fan data analysis, serving multiple sports organisations across five leagues. The platform delivers a unified fan intelligence layer integrating all fan touchpoints and on-field data to power AI-driven personalised, season-aware engagement. The company supports organisations in navigating the operational realities of fan engagement in modern sport.

Ray James, COO, iSportConnect, said: “Our community thrives when we share the expertise needed to solve real business challenges. Proem Sports doesn’t just offer a tool; they bring a wealth of practical experience in how to apply fan intelligence in a way that makes sense. We are excited to welcome them as a partner that enables our members to navigate the landscape with an actionable roadmap. We want to ensure that every organization has the strategic clarity to turn fan data into real, sustainable growth.”

Chiraag Paul, CEO, Proem Sports, added:  “Partnering with iSportConnect is an important milestone for us as we scale our presence globally. iSportConnect has built the premier ecosystem for the world’s most influential sports leaders, and we are thrilled to contribute to that collective intelligence. Our goal is to work alongside this network to demonstrate how unified fan data spanning ticketing, behaviour, and seasonal intelligence can be converted into long-term commercial stability, stronger sponsor relationships, and audiences that come back season after season.”

The partnership reflects a shared commitment to innovation, transformation, and helping sports organisations develop applied strategies to navigate the changing landscape of fan engagement. 

Mittal Family Acquires Majority Stake in Rajasthan Royals in $1.65bn Deal

Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals is set for a major ownership transition after industrialist Lakshmi N. Mittal and his son Aditya Mittal, in partnership with Adar Poonawalla, agreed to acquire a majority stake in the franchise in a deal valued at USD 1.65 billion (approximately ₹15,600 crore).

The acquisition follows the collapse of an earlier proposed deal involving a consortium led by Kal Somani, alongside Rob Walton and Sheila Ford Hamp. The consortium had reportedly submitted a bid of USD 1.63 billion, but the transaction did not proceed after funding and due diligence challenges.

According to a statement issued by the Mittal family, a definitive agreement has now been reached to acquire the franchise from Manoj Badale and the existing ownership consortium.

The transaction includes not only the Rajasthan Royals men’s IPL franchise, but also the wider Royals sports portfolio, including Paarl Royals in South Africa and Barbados Royals in the Caribbean.

Under the new ownership structure, the Mittal family will hold approximately 75% of the franchise, while Poonawalla will own around 18%. The remaining 7% will stay with approved existing investors, including Badale.

The restructured board is expected to include Lakshmi Mittal, Aditya Mittal, Vanisha Mittal-Bhatia, Adar Poonawalla, and Manoj Badale, with Badale continuing in a strategic role to support continuity and governance.

Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary approvals from the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the Competition Commission of India, the IPL Governing Council, and other relevant regulatory bodies. The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026.

Lakshmi Mittal, whose family roots are in Rajasthan, said his emotional connection to the state made the franchise a natural fit.

“I love cricket and my family is from Rajasthan, so there is no IPL team that I would rather be part of than the Rajasthan Royals,” he said.

Aditya Mittal highlighted the franchise’s reputation for nurturing talent as a key factor behind the acquisition.

“The Royals is well known for developing new talent — that resonates deeply with me, and we are determined that legacy will continue, harnessing the best talent in the world for future success,” he said.

Poonawalla, who had previously shown interest in acquiring Royal Challengers Bengaluru, described Rajasthan Royals as a “premier IPL franchise with a strong legacy.”

The transaction marks another milestone in the rapidly rising valuation of IPL franchises, underlining the league’s growing attractiveness to global investors and business leaders. With a diversified multi-team ownership model spanning India, South Africa, and the Caribbean, Rajasthan Royals has evolved into a significant global cricket property beyond its original IPL footprint.

Adidas Extends Bundesliga Partnership with $117m Investment Agreement

The DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, the Bundesliga’s governing body, and adidas AG are entering into a far-reaching partnership to jointly strengthen the further development of German professional football: The global brand from Herzogenaurach will become the Official Future Partner of the Bundesliga.

The cooperation is based on two key pillars:

• Firstly, adidas is providing the DFL with a loan facility of 100 million euros on partnership terms. The league association is securing an attractive financing model to invest in the strategic development of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2. As a heritage German brand – and partner of the league as well as numerous clubs – adidas is supporting its own business context and the positive development of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.

• In addition, adidas will provide the Official Match Ball for German professional football until at least 2034. The agreement, originally concluded for the 2026-27 season through to and including the 2029-30 season, will be extended by four years as part of the Future Partnership. For at least eight years, an Official Match Ball from adidas will be used in the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, as well as at the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, in the relegation play-offs between Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2, and in the newly established U21 competition Bundesliga Talent Series.

The DFL Executive Committee has unanimously adopted a corresponding framework agreement following very constructive negotiations between the management of DFL and adidas. The long-term investment objectives and the use of funds to strengthen central marketing will be jointly decided by the DFL Executive Committee and the 36 clubs of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2.

League President Hans-Joachim Watzke: “This partnership is significant for the Bundesliga. adidas and the DFL will jointly contribute to a positive future for German professional football. The financing model offers an important option for investing in the growth of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 in economically dynamic times. It is a model signal beyond football that the shared goal of further development is at the centre here. My thanks go to adidas CEO Bjørn Gulden and the DFL management for successfully initiating and negotiating this partnership.”

DFL CEO Marc Lenz: “With adidas and the Bundesliga, two major German institutions are moving into the future together – a strong partnership with a particularly strategic focus. For the DFL and all clubs, sustainable investments are essential to secure the future viability and competitiveness of German professional football. adidas – as a global corporation that, like the Bundesliga, is deeply rooted in Germany – is supporting this endeavour in an outstanding way. I would like to personally thank Bjørn Gulden, CFO Harm Ohlmeyer and the entire adidas team for the trusting and very good discussions.”

Bjørn Gulden, CEO of adidas AG: “adidas has always had close ties to German football. That is why we are committed to play an active role in shaping the future of the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 through innovation, reliability, and long-term commitment, both on and off the pitch. We are entering into a partnership with the DFL that takes things to a whole new level. We look forward to a great future together.”

YouTube Expands Viewing Experience with MultiView for NFL Fans

YouTube is strengthening its position in the live sports streaming space with the rollout of MultiView functionality for NFL viewers, allowing fans to watch up to four games simultaneously on a single screen.

Available through YouTube TV and integrated with NFL Sunday Ticket, the feature is designed to enhance second-screen style consumption by enabling users to customise their own viewing combinations across eligible live games. Viewers can switch audio sources, expand individual games to full screen, and navigate seamlessly between multiple broadcasts.

The launch signals YouTube’s continued push to redefine sports consumption habits as fan behaviour increasingly shifts towards personalised, digital-first experiences. MultiView caters particularly to NFL audiences, where concurrent Sunday fixtures have historically driven demand for split-screen viewing and real-time access to multiple games.

The feature is currently available on smart TVs and streaming devices, with browser access remaining unavailable. NFL RedZone is also integrated into MultiView for users subscribed to both NFL Sunday Ticket and RedZone, although combinations remain limited to NFL-related programming.

The rollout builds on YouTube’s broader strategy following its landmark acquisition of NFL Sunday Ticket rights, positioning the platform as a major player in the evolving sports media landscape. By combining premium live rights with enhanced product features, YouTube is seeking to deepen engagement, extend watch time, and offer advertisers richer audience touchpoints.

As competition intensifies across sports streaming, platforms are increasingly investing not just in rights acquisition, but in differentiated fan experiences. MultiView reflects a wider industry trend towards customisable, interactive viewing, particularly as younger audiences demand more control over how they consume live sport.

YouTube has also indicated that personalised recommended MultiView combinations will appear for users via the “Top Picks for You” and “Watch in multiview” sections on YouTube TV’s homepage.

The move comes at a time when digital platforms are under growing pressure to demonstrate value beyond content rights, with user experience emerging as a key battleground in retaining sports audiences.

Poland To Host 2028 Edition of The European Athletics Championships

Silesia has been confirmed as the host venue for the 2028 edition of the European Athletics Championships on the first day of the European Athletics Council Meeting in Birmingham.

Poland has been a regular host of major European Athletics championships over the last decade, including the 2017 European Athletics U23 Championships, 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships and the 2019, 2021 and 2023 European Athletics Team Championships.

However, this will be the first time that the European Athletics Championships will be held on Polish soil in the event’s 92-year history. The 2028 European Athletics Championships will be held from 3-8 June in the Silesian Stadium, one month before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The 2028 European Athletics Championships will be the biggest athletics event prior to the 2028 Olympic Games and will also offer athletes an excellent chance to secure qualifying standards and ranking points on the road to Los Angeles.

“We are delighted to confirm the 2028 European Athletics Championships will be held in Silesia. This marks a historic moment as it will be the first time Poland has hosted our flagship event. Silesia has consistently demonstrated its capability to deliver world class competitions, with strong regional support and organisation from the Polish Athletic Association underpinning the successful staging of events such as the 2021 and 2023 European Athletics Team Championships, the 2021 World Relays as well as the annual Kamila Skolimowska Memorial,” said European Athletics President Dobromir Karamarinov.

He added: “This will be the fourth time the European Athletics Championships will take place in the same year as the Olympic Games and it is not an exaggeration to say that Silesia 2028 will provide us with a glimpse into the future. Indeed, eight athletes who won titles at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome went on to win gold medals just a few weeks later at the Paris Olympics.”

European Athletics CEO Christian Milz said: “Over the past decade, Silesia has established itself as one of Europe’s leading hosts of major athletics events, consistently delivering competitions of the highest standard. This demonstrable track record, and Silesia’s excellently detailed bid for the 2028 European Athletics Championships, gives us confirmation that Silesia will stage a championships of the very highest quality in 2028.”

Poland is the sixth most successful nation in European Athletics Championships history with 59 gold medals and 185 medals in total. It is far from inconceivable that Poland could win their 200th medal in European Athletics Championships history during Silesia.

Reacting to the historic announcement, President of the Polish Athletic Association, Sebastian Chmara said: “Poland has never before hosted Europe’s premier outdoor athletics event which makes today’s decision by European Athletics a truly landmark moment.

“We are launching an ambitious and exciting project that will become a flagship for Polish athletics in the years ahead. Together with our key partners — the Silesian Voivodeship and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism — we are fully committed to delivering a world class event that will inspire athletes, engage fans across Europe and showcase the very best of our sport.”

Riot Games Inks Partnership With OMODA

OMODA will team up with VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA, the top-tier regional competitive circuit, and Game Changers EMEA, the premier women’s competitive league. Together, the two pioneers bridge virtual and physical worlds, delivering an immersive experience that fuses technology, culture, and passion for young users worldwide.

In the digital age, Esports has long transcended mere competition to become one of the most dynamic sports and cultural symbols, serving as a core pillar of social currency for engaging with younger generations. It carries unique game worldviews, a fearless and upward-spirited Esports ethos, and community-specific trendsetting cultural icons, offering global Gen Z a home where they can express their passion, showcase their individuality, and celebrate with like-minded peers.

VALORANT, developed by Riot Games, has become a globally acclaimed FPS title, backed by its fair and inclusive competitive system and cutting-edge visual aesthetics. VCT EMEA and Game Changers EMEA, competitive leagues for the game, are highly influential esports tournaments watched by hundreds of thousands gamers globally. The competitive spirit they convey—self-transcendence, fearless competition and teamwork—strikes a deep chord with the core values of contemporary youth.

This partnership is further strengthened by the foundational strength of the VCT ecosystem—a meticulously architected league renowned for its accessibility and sustainability. As VCT EMEA evolves to welcome an even broader and more diverse pool of talent, its commitment to inclusive growth aligns seamlessly with OMODA’s own journey of global expansion and boundary-pushing innovation.

OMODA&JAECOO

As The World’s Leading Crossover Brand, OMODA goes beyond just cars—it is committed to creating a trendy lifestyle that integrates technology, culture, and passion. With a global perspective, the brand delves deep into youth communities, accurately identifying the spiritual aspirations and cultural preferences of the new generation. This collaboration with VCT EMEA and Game Changers EMEA embraces esports culture—something young people are passionate about—as a link to achieve deep alignment between the brand and young users.

Aligned Ideals, Practicing the Faith of Boundary-Breaking

Breaking boundaries and marching forward fearlessly is the core shared belief of OMODA and VCT EMEA, as well as the spiritual cornerstone of their cross-sector collaboration.

VCT EMEA is driven by innovation, defining new esports trends. OMODA takes breakthrough as its attitude, rejects the constraints of mediocrity, and creates exclusive mobility symbols for global young people who refuse to be ordinary with forward-looking technology and cutting-edge aesthetics. Together, they are redefining the intersection of esports and mobility through a boundary-breaking approach.

As a core strategic model under the OMODA brand, the CYBER MECHA OMODA 4 takes the lead as the trendsetting vehicle for this cross-industry collaboration. Its CYBER MECHA design aesthetics, high-performance cockpit, and extreme performance capabilities perfectly carry the pioneering core of both the brand and VCT EMEA, extending the passionate competition of the virtual world into real-world mobility.

This cross-industry collaboration is not a simple co-branding effort. Rather, it represents OMODA’s use of esports as a pivot to build a multi-integrated cross-circle brand experience ecosystem that combines “esports + automotive + culture”, further strengthening emotional connections with the new generation of users—turning the passionate competition of the virtual world into a real-world trendsetting mobility lifestyle.

As the pioneering vehicle for this vision, the OMODA 4 delivers deep integration across three dimensions. In terms of exterior design, OMODA 4 adopts the globally original CYBER MECHA design language, forging Cyber Lightning headlights and Mecha Flow. Its sharp geometric lines and futuristic light effects align with VCT EMEA’s aesthetic, creating a two-way visual resonance between the car and the league.

Inside the cockpit, OMODA 4 features the class-leading Cyber Carry mobile cockpit that supports seamless wireless gamepad connection. Paired with a high-definition large screen and surround sound, it comes equipped with game apps and further builds the Cyber Verse high-energy trendy play ecosystem – covering diverse scenarios such as mobile KTV and pet travel. This turns the mobile cockpit into young people’s second trendy hub and enables seamless integration of competitive passion with daily mobility.

In terms of performance, the OMODA 4 comes equipped with original sport modification kits. On top of that, the OMODA 4 ULTRA features a sport exhaust sound system and launch control, delivering rapid power response and ultimate handling for a “driver-car unity” experience, echoing the competitive thrill of esports where every moment counts and the pursuit of perfection meets the decisive instant.

When esports meets real-world mobility, and a pioneering automotive brand encounters a top-tier esports IP, boundaries are completely broken. OMODA will continue to connect with youth communities through diverse formats, leveraging cutting-edge technology, trendy design, and passionate spirit to create richer cross-dimensional experiences for global Gen Z users. Defy definitions, move forward fearlessly—OMODA and VCT EMEA join hands with young pioneers worldwide to push beyond limits and embrace the future!

WTA CEO Portia Archer Steps Down Amid Leadership Transition

Portia Archer has stepped down from her role as chief executive of the Women’s Tennis Association, less than two years after her appointment, as per Reuters.

The decision, effective April 20, was communicated by WTA Chair Valerie Camillo to staff, members, and stakeholders. While no specific reason was cited, Camillo confirmed that the organisation is currently working on a leadership transition plan, with further updates expected by mid-May.

Archer, who joined the WTA in July 2024, succeeded Steve Simon and was responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and driving the organisation’s commercial and strategic growth, including expansion into new markets.

During her tenure, one of the most high-profile challenges Archer faced was addressing criticism surrounding the decision to host the season-ending WTA Finals in Riyadh. The move, initially agreed under her predecessor, sparked global debate but remained a key part of the WTA’s commercial strategy. The current hosting agreement runs through 2026, with discussions ongoing for future editions beyond the existing cycle.

Archer’s departure marks a significant leadership shift for the WTA at a time when the organisation continues to navigate evolving commercial opportunities and global positioning within women’s sport.

SMC Partners with Extreme H to Drive Sustainable Motorsport Growth in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Motorsport Company (SMC) has entered into a strategic commercial partnership with Extreme H, marking a significant step in advancing sustainable innovation while reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ambitions as a global motorsport hub.

Extreme H operates the FIA Extreme H World Cup, the world’s first hydrogen-powered racing series, featuring mixed-gender driver line-ups competing across three-day race formats in remote and environmentally challenging locations.

The agreement builds on an established collaboration between the two parties, with SMC having previously played a key role in the development of Extreme E, including hosting a flagship event in Saudi Arabia. That relationship now evolves into the hydrogen era through Extreme H.

Under the new partnership, both organisations will work together to expand the commercial footprint of the FIA Extreme H World Cup within the Kingdom, leveraging SMC’s local market expertise and Extreme H’s global platform. The collaboration is expected to unlock new opportunities for partners, rights holders and fans, while accelerating the integration of sustainable technologies across the motorsport ecosystem.

Genius Sports Strikes AI partnership with the Swiss Football League

Genius Sports Limited (“Genius Sports”), a global leader in real-time sports data, has struck an exclusive, multi-year technology and AI partnership with the Swiss Football League, the governing body of the Brack Super League and dieci Challenge League.

This agreement executes upon Genius Sports’ position as the operating system of modern sport as well as its innovation partnership with the European Leagues, which represents 18 members leagues and 46 professional competitions across the continent.

From the start of the 2026/27 season, Genius Sports’ data and AI platform, GeniusIQ, will be deployed in every 1st tier stadium – creating a single intelligence layer for tracking data, and commercial activation.

Swiss Football League coaches and analysts can harness Genius Sports’ Performance Studio, the world’s most advanced football analysis platform. Used by top teams in the Premier League, Ligue 1, Belgian Pro League and more, it applies advanced machine learning to the richest data set in football to provide unmatched insights across match preparation and analysis.

By deploying GeniusIQ, the Swiss Football League has created an incredible platform for future innovations across augmented broadcasts, semi-automated offsides technology and data-driven sponsor activations.

Genius Sports will also provide tracking capabilities and access to Performance Studio to multiple teams across the Swiss FA national team setup. 

“This partnership marks an important step in strengthening the data foundations of Swiss professional football,” said Claudius Schäfer, CEO of the Swiss Football League. “By providing our clubs with positional tracking data alongside event data and video feeds, we are enabling them to analyse the game in greater depth and support their sporting decision-making.”

“As the operating system of modern sport, Genius Sports is integral to how leagues worldwide run, grow and monetise their competitions,” Steven Burton, Chief Partnerships Officer at Genius Sports. “We’re delighted to partner with the Swiss Football League, executing on the vision set out with the European Leagues, and delivering industry-leading tracking and performance solutions across their competitions.”