Baller League, the digital-focused six-a-side competition, has shut down its operations in Germany after two years and will focus its efforts on growing its competitions in the UK and the US.
The indoor soccer league was founded in 2024 by entrepreneur Felix Starck, with backing from German international players Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, as an alternative format to the established sport, designed to increase speed and excitement within the game.
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Hummels and Podolski served as league presidents when it launched and were joined by well-known names across sports, television, music, and streaming, such as Kevin-Prince Boateng, Christoph Kramer, Marco Reus, and Alisha Lehmann.
Domestically, the matches were streamed on Twitch and ProSieben Maxx.
However, after two years staging the competition, organizers have confirmed the league’s activities in Germany are being “suspended indefinitely.”
In a statement, it said: “Although Germany will always remain an important part of Baller League's roots, the market currently does not offer the necessary size and structural conditions to support the company's long-term goals.”
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By GlobalDataIt added that the company remains “highly liquid and solvent,” with the company open to a return “when conditions better align with our long-term vision.”
Baller League German had planned to start its fourth season in January, having postponed its initial November 2025 launch date.
The organization now plans to focus its attention on its leagues in the UK and the US.
Baller League UK launched last March with a host of soccer legends, social media stars, and cultural icons signing up to manage the 12 competing teams, including Deportrio (Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, Gary Lineker), 26ers (John Terry), and N5 FC (Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg).
Ahead of its launch, it was announced that mobile network operator O2 would be the league’s headline sponsor, while pay-TV heavyweight Sky secured domestic rights to show every match live on its Sky Sports linear channels and subscription OTT service Now.
The US league, meanwhile, is due to launch this March.
Last year, the league secured major investment from Portugal-based private equity firm Apex alongside a host of high-profile soccer players to expand the Baller League’s operations, scaling production operations and hiring more staff to support the international expansion into the UK and another major market, as well as covering the operational costs of its matchdays.
Apex's backing was part of an overall investment of €23 million ($24.1 million) in series A funding into the competition, with EQT Ventures leading the funding round, and Courtside Ventures also participating.
A prior funding round conducted by the competition in 2024 generated $8 million in investment.
