Liga Forte União Aims to Transform Brazilian Football with Unified League and Global Strategy
The Liga Forte União, representing 33 Brazilian football clubs, is advancing the formation of a unified league and launching an international strategy to market the Campeonato Brasileiro as a global product rather than just exporting players.
- • LFU formed in 2022, includes 33 clubs from Série A and B
- • Projected 10 billion reais revenue from TV rights and commercial properties
- • Strategy to export Brazilian league as a finished product internationally
- • Broadcasting agreements in 55 countries to increase global audience
Key details
Gabriel Lima, CEO of the Liga Forte União (LFU), has expressed strong optimism about the progress and future of the newly formed unified football league in Brazil. Established in mid-2022, the LFU currently includes 33 clubs, comprising 11 teams from Série A and 16 from Série B, marking a significant step towards consolidating Brazilian football under one organized entity. Lima praised the alliance with an institutional investor which has bolstered the LFU's governance and allowed it to operate with the professionalism of a media company. He highlighted that the league is projected to generate nearly 10 billion reais from television rights and commercial ventures, doubling previous earnings from similar products.
Beyond national organization, Lima outlined an ambitious international strategy to increase the Brazilian Championship's global presence not by exporting players, but by selling the league as a finished product. This approach contrasts with Brazil’s traditional dominance as a leading exporter of football players, aiming instead to retain talent domestically for longer and foster sustainable growth. To this end, the LFU has secured broadcasting agreements in 55 countries, including the UK, Balkans, Russia, and the US, to build a worldwide fan base and raise awareness of Brazilian club football.
Lima described the current formation of commercial blocs as a "transitional step" toward full unification and stressed the importance of collective bargaining modeled after American sports leagues. By negotiating television, advertising, and video game rights jointly, while allowing clubs to manage their own additional revenue, the LFU aims to create a balanced and prosperous ecosystem for all involved parties.
This strategic vision seeks to strengthen Brazilian football both domestically and on the international stage over the coming three to five years, positioning the LFU as a benchmark for collective growth and global relevance in sport.