Gerard Piqué’s Kings League Secures $63 Million to Accelerate Global Expansion

The Kings League, the creator-led seven-a-side football competition founded by former Barcelona defender Gerard Piqué, has raised $63 million in a new funding round led by U.S.-based media investor Alignment Growth. The investment brings the league’s total funding to over $160 million since its inception in 2023 and is earmarked to fuel an aggressive international expansion strategy. With a focus on capturing younger audiences through digital-first content, the league plans to use the capital to launch new regional competitions in the United States and other key global markets.

Since its launch in Spain, the Kings League has become a digital phenomenon by reimagining traditional football for the social media age. The format features shorter matches, gamified rules, and teams led by prominent influencers and former stars like Neymar Jr. and Kaká. During 2025, the league generated over 150 million livestreaming hours and 13 billion social media impressions, proving the scalability of its model. The new investment follows the successful rollout of regional leagues in Brazil, France, Italy, and the MENA region, as well as the introduction of a national team World Cup tournament.

Alignment Growth’s involvement reflects a broader shift in the private equity landscape toward sports intellectual property that operates outside the traditional broadcast model. Kevin Tsujihara, managing partner at Alignment Growth, highlighted that the Kings League has successfully fused dynamic competition with creator-driven storytelling, making it a highly attractive asset for investors targeting Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Currently, around 70% of the league’s revenue is derived from sponsorships, a figure the organization hopes to diversify as it expands its footprint and develops new monetization channels across streaming platforms.

Gerard Piqué, acting as Chairman of the league, has been vocal about his desire to move away from the "legacy" models of professional sport. By prioritizing accessibility on platforms like Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube, the Kings League has created a self-sustaining ecosystem that bypasses traditional paywalls. The $63 million injection will be used for both organic growth and selected M&A activity as the league seeks to solidify its position as a global leader in the emerging category of influencer-led sports entertainment.