SocaLoca: Revolutionising talent identification and tournament organising

Staff Writer

SocaLoca co-founders Lionel Foy and Sayf Ismail are providing more opportunity for footballers across the world with their innovative platform.

The concept was born in 2016 when the two first met, and now the SocaLoca app is used by national federations in Belize and Cameroon for tournament organising.

There are two main goals of the platform. Equalising talent identification and becoming a hotspot for football tournaments and data.

Foy and Ismail recognised that the pathways for footballers in some countries weren’t as equal as others. Smaller or less resourced countries and continents simply don’t have the infrastructure that the big footballing powers do globally.

The app operates in a similar way to statistics platforms like FotMob or Transfermarkt, where player profiles and stats are collated for fans and other interested parties to view. However, there is also a self-management aspect to it.

Footballers can download the platform and build their own profile, showcasing their achievements, statistics, results and more for anyone to see. This goes from juniors all the way up to seniors.

This gives those players from lesser resourced regions the opportunity to be seen and scouted like any other player, from when they’re first starting out to battling their way up through the footballing pyramid.

Co-founder Arif Sayuti.

While there are concerns around the data-sharing implicit to the platform, measures have been put in place. Players aged between 7 and 12 must be registered by their guardians and have a limit on what information can be displayed on their public profiles.

The global interconnectedness that an app like SocaLoca offers is unlike anything seen in world football to date.

The other side of the platform is its use in tournament organisation. This links in with the player profiles, where players are registered within tournaments and competitions and have their results and statistics linked to their profiles.

SocaLoca’s Competition Management Module has already seen successful use in Uganda, Belize and Cameroon, and can be used by anyone on the platform.

Football Federation Belize is now using the SocaLoca app to organise and run all regional competitions, while Cameroon’s national football academy is now a partner of SocaLoca.

Results and statistics in countries all over the world are now available to recruiters and talent identifiers, making it easier for those who would be otherwise overlooked to get their chance.

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Adidas-Bundesliga Deal Marks Exciting Comeback

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Bundesliga International & Minute Media
Image Credit: Bundesliga Website

German sportswear giant Adidas has once again returned to the Bundesliga, becoming the league’s official football supplier from the 2026/27 season.

In a new deal with the German Football League (DFL), Adidas will supply both the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 with footballs across a four-year period, culminating in the 2029/30 season. Additionally, Adidas will provide balls in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup and relegation play-offs.

For Adidas, the partnership marks a return to German football after their previous deal with the DFL ended in the 2017/18 season, when the organisation had supplied the top flights of German football since the 2010/11 season.

DFL CEO Steffen Merkel expressed the league’s positive outlook for the partnership with Adidas.

“The selection of the right official matchball is of particular relevance for the Bundesliga, given it is the highest-scoring top league in Europe. Adidas tabled a very strong offer, that was accepted by the DFL and the 36 clubs in all parameters,” he said in a press release.

“We are very pleased about this return and the early planning security that comes with the co-operation. adidas is a company that is deeply rooted in Germany and at the same time has great global appeal. Together, we want to utilise this starting from the season after next.”

Managing Director for Central Europe at Adidas, Marina Moguš, detailed Adidas’ pride to return to the Bundesliga.

“We are very excited about the new partnership with the DFL,” she said via press release.

“The future cooperation once again strengthens our presence in the domestic market. After all these years, it was very important to us to once again provide the official match ball for the German Bundesliga.”

“Now we can hardly wait to write a new chapter together with the DFL from the 2026/27 season.”

As a result of the DFL’s return to Adidas supplied match balls, the current deal with DERBYSTAR will terminate at the end of the 2025/26 season.

 

Immersiv.io: Redefining Live Sports Viewing with AR

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Image credit: Immersiv.io

Founded in 2016 in Paris by Emmanuelle Roger (CEO) and Stéphane Guerin (CTO), Immersiv.io has become a global leader in Augmented Reality (AR) sports technology.

With a vision to revolutionise fan engagement, the company combines computer vision, machine learning, and AR to create immersive, interactive experiences for sports audiences worldwide.

Now operating on an international scale, the company collaborates with major leagues and sports brands like the Bundesliga, redefining the way audiences interact with the game.

Immersiv.io Revolutionises Live Sports Viewing with AR Technology

A New Era of Sports entertainment

Immersiv.io is transforming how fans experience live sports, bringing a new level of interactivity through Spatial Computing and augmented reality (AR).

By integrating ultra-live data and immersive visuals, their AR-powered solution, Arise, enhances engagement and offers personalised experiences like never before.

Immersiv.io’s award-winning platform, Arise, is one of many new-age sports technologies that are destined to completely transform the viewing experience and shift away from the traditional TV viewing experience.

With a 75% engagement rate, Immersiv.io’s technology is redefining fan participation, letting audiences take control of the live action in ways that were previously unimaginable.

Interactive Sports Viewing with AR

The Arise system provides real-time insights and contextual overlays, ensuring fans are more connected to the game than ever before. Key features include:

  • On-Top Video Insights – Interactive statistics and insights displayed directly on the live video feed.
  • 3D Companion Experience – In-depth game analysis through a dynamic 3D representation of key plays.
  • In-Arena Overlays – Real-time game data overlaid onto the actual pitch for an enhanced live stadium experience.

This innovative approach allows fans to access and interact with crucial match data in real-time, providing a more immersive and engaging experience whether watching at home, in a stadium, or on the go.

Proven Success Across Multiple Sports

Immersiv.io’s AR technology has already been deployed across various sporting leagues and competitions, enhancing the way fans consume live sports. Partnering with major AR tech providers, the system is compatible with leading devices, including Apple Vision Pro, Meta Quest, Magic Leap, and Snapchat AR.

Industry Leaders Praise ARISE

Sports executives have recognised the impact of Immersiv.io’s technology:

“We want to give fans the possibility to gain knowledge and better experience the football game.”
— Andreas Heyden, ex-CEO DFL Digital Sports GmbH

“Our customers were impressed with the app—it gave them a new dimension and more engaging way to watch football. This data-driven viewing approach allows them to better understand the game than ever before.”
— Andy Kwong, VP Sports Content Dev, PCCW Media Limited

Maximising Digital ROI for Clubs & Broadcasters

Beyond fan engagement, Arise offers significant commercial benefits for teams, leagues, and broadcasters:

Strengthening Audience Growth – Boost sign-ups and subscriptions with personalised content and data-driven analytics.
Expanding Revenue Streams – Unlock new sponsorship and advertising opportunities with interactive brand placements.
White-Label Integration – Fully customisable to fit a brand’s identity, with seamless SDK-based integration into existing platforms or as a standalone app.

How this would transform Australian football viewing experiences

Immersiv.io’s AR technology could transform Australian football’s viewing experience, making matches more engaging and interactive.

At the moment on Paramount+, viewers are subject to a broadcast with very limited graphics, statistics and technology which can potentially lure in a more engaged audience.

This innovation could attract younger audiences, boost broadcast value, and create new revenue streams through sponsorships and premium fan experiences.

By modernising how football is consumed, AR technology could help grow the sport’s popularity and increase its commercial appeal in Australia.

Conclusion

As AR technology continues to evolve, Immersiv.io is at the forefront of revolutionising the way sports are watched, experienced, and monetised. By merging live data with immersive technology, they are paving the way for the next generation of sports entertainment.

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