Everything to play for - Football, finance and the business behind the beautiful game
- ciaranbrodigan
- 25 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The world’s biggest sporting event is about to get even bigger.
The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup will be the largest in history, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with 48 teams and over 100 matches played before the final whistle blows in New Jersey in July.
It will be a global spectacle, but it will also be a powerful economic force.
From international investment flows, to the future of local clubs, football finance is firmly in the spotlight. While the headlines focus on global giants, the real story often starts much closer to home.
In the most recent UHY Global issue, Alan Farrelly, Managing Director of UHY Farrelly Dawe White, contributes to the UHY article exploring football finance, focusing on examining the global game’s economic landscape and the opportunities and risks it presents for investors.
Big tournaments. Local passion.
The League of Ireland may feel far removed from the Champions League or World Cup finals, but the passion is just as real.
“Soccer is the predominant sport in our town, Dundalk,” says Alan Farrelly, Managing Director of UHY Farrelly Dawe White. "Matches are played on a Friday night and in a town of 40,000 people attract attendances of 3,500, not far off 10% of the population. The social media around Dundalk FC is huge with more than 80,000 followers online. The club normally employs 36 people between management, players and technical staff.”
Compared to Barcelona or Manchester City, Dundalk is a small club in a minor European soccer league. Nevertheless, it has recently been acquired by new investors, a consortium of Irish businessmen based in the US.
“The interest from overseas in investing in Irish clubs has been immense with more than half of the league teams having international affiliations,” says Alan. “Since the new investors have stepped into our club there has been huge interest in investing in the club from abroad with people seeking not only minority positions but even looking to take an immediate majority position.”
Read the full article focusing on football finance from UHY, with contributions from Alan Farrelly, UHY Farrelly Dawe White Limited, Ireland and Mohamed Arafa, UHY Waled Mounir & Mohamed Arafa, Egypt, available in the most recent issue of UHY Global.
As the world looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup, football finance is evolving at every level of the game. Increased investment, heightened scrutiny and changing governance expectations mean clubs must be prepared to operate with greater financial discipline than ever before.
At UHY Farrelly Dawe White, we support football organisations with the financial, regulatory and governance foundations needed to grow sustainably and compliantly.
To discuss how we can support your club or football organisation, contact UHY Farrelly Dawe White today.
