OneFootball Looks to Cash In on Surging Women’s Soccer

OneFootball is looking to expand its women’s soccer audience.

The soccer media company is acquiring Gloria — a soccer startup building a social app that gives fans the ability to discuss their teams and share content — and hiring founder Victoire Cogevina as the vice president of women’s soccer.

“Women’s football is the fastest-growing sport in the world and the most exciting sector in global football,” Cogevina said.

Financial terms of the deal, which is expected to close in November, weren’t disclosed.

• The app, which is still in beta testing, will be integrated into OneFootball, which offers soccer coverage and live soccer matches. 
• Cogevina will help OneFootball look for investments and deals in women’s soccer.

Several of Gloria’s investors, including Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian and Muse Capital co-founder Assia Grazioli-Venier, will transfer their investments to OneFootball.

OneFootball — which boasts more than 100 million monthly active users, raised $300 million in April in a round led by Liberty City Ventures.

Popularity Points

UEFA released a report in August estimating the fan base for women’s soccer would grow from 144 million to 328 million in the next decade, and the commercial value of women’s soccer could increase sixfold in the next 10 years to $698 million.

The governing body claimed sponsorship could increase to $300 million per year, media rights could be worth $260 million annually by 2033, and matchday revenue is expected to increase to more than $137 million each year.