Major League Soccer and ai.io set to provide talented players an opportunity to be scouted

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Major League Soccer and ai.io
Image credit: Ringo Chiu via Shutterstock

Football is very quickly evolving in the United States, with artificial intelligence-based platform ai.io set to partner up with Major League Soccer (MLS) to provide a service that allows all players an opportunity to be analysed, scored and seen by scouts from the MLS.

Available in December 2023, US clubs across the MLS, MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT will have access to ai.io’s main product, aiScout – a free downloadable app that allows players of any geographical or financial situation an equal chance to be scouted by the league.

Fred Lipka, Technical Director of MLS NEXT, expressed his excitement for this game-changing product that gives every young player a fair opportunity.

“At MLS, we believe this partnership is going to be a real solution for some of the most important issues faced in Soccer across North America namely, cost, geography, and accessibility,” he said via press release.

“It is critical that we provide all players with an opportunity to access MLS NEXT and MLS NEXT Pro programming, and ai.io has built a fantastic technology platform that enables us to eliminate these traditional barriers and increase opportunities for players at no cost to the player.”

This aligns with the MLS’s Youth Development vision for 2024 and beyond, as Lipka stated in a recent interview.

“Youth Development is a vital factor is determining the long-term success of the league, however this goes beyond individual talent. Cultural shifts about the system in this continent (North America) are necessary.”

ai.io is a ground-breaking, award winning technology company, that provides technology solutions to generate & analyse amateur & professional sport data, providing sport organisations & players with real time analysis and reporting, while creating valuable insights and outcomes.

In ai.io’s mission statement on their official website, it states: “No athlete, player or talent left behind. We are on a mission to transform the way talent is discovered in Football.”

Their two core platforms, aiScout and aiLabs, will be made available to the MLS in December 2023 and will be in effect immediately after to scout talent.

The league’s investment in the MLS NEXT program show the priority in developing elite level talent in North America to advance the MLS as a league, and this particular partnership with ai.io is innovative and provides the league with a cutting-edge, in terms of realising potential talent.

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Mbappé move from Nike to On signals new battle for Football’s sponsorship market

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Kylian Mbappe UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier
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Kylian Mbappé’s decision to leave Nike after almost 20 years has opened a new chapter in the commercial battle for football’s biggest names. The Real Madrid and France star has joined Swiss sportswear brand On, a significant boon for the company on entry into the football market.

Mbappé’s departure is a significant commercial loss for Nike. The forward joined the company as a nine-year-old and grew into one of its leading football figures. His loss compounds the recent transition of Spanish star Lamine Yamal to long-time rival Adidas.

On built its reputation in running, before expanding into tennis via Roger Federer. It will now use Mbappé’s experience as it develops football products, with its first boots expected to become widely available in the near future. Former France star Thierry Henry has also joined On as its football director and is a shareholder.

On has confirmed that Mbappé’s agreement includes both cash and equity, although the financial details have not been released, gives the partnership a deeper commercial connection than a traditional endorsement deal. Nike still holds significant football contracts, including long-term partnership with numerous national teams.

However, Mbappé’s move gives On an opportunity to challenge the established order, including Nike, Adidas, Puma and other emerging competitors. But will they turn this prized signature into lasting football credibility? To do so, the brand must now deliver products that can compete on performance, design and price.

Mbappé’s switch is therefore more than a sponsorship change. It signals an increasingly competitive fight for football’s most influential athletes and the billions of fans who follow them.

SBS expands Australian Championship broadcast coverage for 2026

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Image Credits: Football Australia

The Australian Championship will enter its second season with an expanded broadcast partnership between Football Australia and SBS. The 2026 competition will feature two live SBS broadcasts in every round, marking an increase from the tournament’s debut season.

Thursday night football will form a key part of the new broadcast schedule. The opening match will see Preston Lions face Wollongong Wolves on October 15th, with the game broadcast live on SBS2 and SBS On Demand. Saturday football will also remain part of the free-to-air schedule; first up, Sutherland Sharks’ clash with South Melbourne on October 17th will be shown live on SBS and SBS On Demand.

The expanded agreement gives the competition a greater presence across SBS’s linear channels while retaining its full streaming coverage, with every match across the 2026 Australian Championship available live on SBS On Demand. The platform also provides full replays and highlights for viewers to access at their discretion.

In addition to SBS’ coverage, Football Australia will also stream the competition via YouTube.

The Australian Championship consists of a six-round group stage, finals beginning at quarter-finals from November 26, and a Grand Final scheduled currently between December 10-12.

It features 16 clubs from seven states and territories. The broadcast schedule places several historic fixtures in front of a national audience: South Melbourne will meet Sydney United 58 in a repeat of the 1999 NSL Grand Final, and Sydney Olympic and Marconi Stallions will also renew a rivalry that includes NSL Grand Final meetings in 1989 and 1990.

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