English soccer teams kick off deal talks

Soccer dealmaking has kicked off just days after the 2026 World Cup final.

Why it matters: The FIFA World Cup has historically gathered the largest global audience of any recurring television event worldwide, and private equity investors are increasingly bullish on sports and live events.

Driving the news: Fenway Sports Group revealed earlier this week that a consortium led by Amit Bhatia expressed interest in a acquiring a minority stake of Liverpool Football Club.

• A deal could value Liverpool between $6 billion and $7 billion, per the WSJ.

Earlier today, the Financial Times reported that King Power, the Thai owners of Leicester City, had tapped Citigroup to sound out buyers. Premier League champions in 2015, Leicester City has struggled since the pandemic, and now in English football's second tier.