Axios

FIFA, global soccer's governing body and World Cup organizer, is seeking to raise up to $4.2 billion for a new commercial subsidiary at a $20 billion valuation led by Joshua Kushner's Thrive Eternal.

Why it matters: This would be the first time FIFA has ever sought outside investment.

Break out those crowns: The LeJawn era has officially begun.

Why it matters: After weeks of making fans sweat — and dropping plenty of hints about where he might land — basketball superstar LeBron James has chosen to finish his career with the Philadelphia Sixers.

Most golf fans learned this week they didn't win the Masters ticket lottery.

Why it matters: The annual rejection has become almost as much a Masters tradition as the tournament itself.

Sunday's FIFA World Cup final drew more than 62.8 million viewers in the U.S., making it the most-watched World Cup final and soccer telecast in American history.

Why it matters: The record audience underscores soccer's growing popularity in the U.S. and is likely to boost the value of future media rights.

Even the "cheap seats" at most World Cup games were expensive, with last-minute prices reaching thousands of dollars for some matches.

The big picture: Get-in prices ranged from just over $300 for a group-stage match in Atlanta to nearly $7,500 for Sunday's final in East Rutherford, N.J.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is delivering a masterclass in global monoculture, stacking blockbuster ratings, on-field theatrics and a superstar race for soccer immortality.

Why it matters: Skeptics spent months bracing for the World Cup to collide with a polarized, parochial and priced-out American public. The tournament has answered back with the largest U.S. viewing audiences in soccer history.

LeBron James is on the move again, and suddenly every NBA city thinks it has a shot.

Why it matters: Even at 41, James remains one of basketball's defining figures. He is the league's all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion and one of the only active players whose arrival could instantly alter the trajectory, relevance and national profile of a franchise.

F1 executives see Apple's exclusive five-year U.S. streaming deal as another step forward for the sport, despite the potential risk of a more limited audience on streaming than cable in the short term.

Why it matters: Apple has yet to release viewership data for any of the nine race weekends it's aired this year, so there's no way to independently verify how the distribution deal is going.

CANNES, France — Formula One driver Carlos Sainz said granting Netflix access for the popular "Drive to Survive" show was "worth it."

Why it matters: F1's fanbase has surged 63% since 2018, the year before Netflix released the sports documentary series.

The U.S. men's World Cup run ended Monday as Belgium defeated the Americans 4-1 before a sellout crowd in Seattle.

The big picture: The match was Seattle's sixth and final FIFA World Cup game, capping three weeks that saw the city emerge as a top host site.