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Real Madrid and Barcelona neck-and-neck as world’s most valuable football brands in the face of COVID-19

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  • Real Madrid remain world’s most valuable football brand, but Barcelona narrow the gap to just €6 million
  • COVID-19 causes total brand value of top 50 clubs to decrease for the first time in 6 years – €751 million or 3.7% is knocked off
  • English clubs dominate the ranking with six brands in top 10 and 19 in top 50
  • Liverpool inches two spots up into 4th place, following historic Premier League win
  • Bundesliga’s 1. FC Köln is this year’s fastest-growing brand, followed by Leicester City and RB Leipzig – all recording over 40% growth
  • Tottenham Hotspur’s new stadium takes top spot in Buro Happold’s Venue Performance Rating

Real Madrid remain the most valuable football club brand in the world for 2020, according to the latest edition of the Brand Finance Football Annual. Boosted by winning the LaLiga title for the first time since 2017, the club retained its position at the top of the table in the football industry, but against a backdrop of economic and social disruption, caused primarily by the COVID-19 pandemic, Real Madrid’s brand value has declined by 14% to €1,419 million.

Real Madrid’s disappointing on-pitch performance prior to 2019-20, which saw an earlier-than-normal exit from the UEFA Champions League in 2018-19 and a second successive season adrift of LaLiga champions Barcelona, eroded the club’s dominance of the Brand Finance ranking. The situation was exacerbated by COVID-19, along with a lack of stability around the management of the team. Barcelona, Real’s fierce rivals, are just €6 million behind Real with a brand value of €1,413 million, supported by strong and diverse revenue generation and continued domestic performance in Spain.

COVID-19 knocks off €751 million of brand value

Real Madrid is not the only club to see a drop in brand value this year. COVID-19 has caused the total value of the top 50 football brands to decrease for the first time in 6 years. Through its effect on the three main revenue streams – Matchday, Broadcasting, and Commercial – €751 million or 3.7% has been knocked off the cumulative brand value of the world’s top 50 most valuable football clubs.

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged professional football worldwide and across all levels. Matchday income for the 501 games remaining in the big 5 leagues dropped to zero, but it is often the smaller clubs and leagues which are more reliant on this revenue stream – in Scotland it makes up 43% of total revenue, compared to only 13% in England.

There have been some positive signs, as Southampton vs Manchester City on BBC broke the Premier League TV audience record with 5.7 million viewers, but the longer-term damage to the game’s economic structure has yet to be revealed.

Richard Haigh, Managing Director of Brand Finance, commented:

“Top-level football has been confronted with the largest existential threat since the Second World War. Loss of income, coupled with health concerns about mass gatherings, have raised question marks about the future of the industry and the financial resilience of clubs across all levels. The full damage of the COVID-19 crisis has yet to unfold and it is not inconceivable there will be casualties in the form of club bankruptcies and changes in ownership.”

Despite the huge implications of COVID-19 for football clubs and their financial results, the majority of the brand value is secured by the clubs’ long-term future – provided they can survive the initial shock. For example, only 21% of Real Madrid’s brand value is delivered by the next five years’ financial results.

Premier power

Real Madrid and Barcelona are followed by a cluster of English Premier League clubs in the Brand Finance Football Annual 2020 ranking, with Manchester United in 3rd position after their brand value fell by 11% to €1,314 million. Liverpool, who won their first league title since 1990 in runaway style, are in 4th spot jumping above Manchester City in terms of brand value, rising from €1,191 million in 2019 to €1,262 million, a 6% increase. Chelsea dropped one place in the table to 8th after their value fell for the fourth consecutive year to €949 million. This was arguably due to the club being absent from the UEFA Champions League and also suffering a transfer ban after being charged with breaking Financial Fair Play Regulations.

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Boomerang Partners

Boomerang Partners delivered expert sports insights during two days of iGB L!VE London 2026

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From July 1 to 2 inclusive, Boomerang Partners, an Affiliate Gambling & Betting Marketing Agency, participated in iGB L!VE London on stand F50. One of the world’s largest iGaming events was held on a grand scale at ExCeL London. It proved to be an effective networking platform for major operators, affiliate teams, tech vendors, and game providers.

Meetings, sports expertise, and new agreements

One of the main topics attracting visitors to the stand was Boomerang’s expertise in sports. The company runs one of the leading sports-focused affiliate programs in the industry and is eager to share its expertise with market players. This knowledge is built on the support of a strong in-house analytics department, and one of its results was the launch of the Sports Marketing and Betting Calendar 2026 earlier this year. Numerous affiliate teams use insights from this guide to launch and run campaigns throughout the current year, which is packed with high-level sports competitions.

Shortlist in the Best Affiliate Programme category

On July 2, the final day of the conference, the iGB Affiliate Awards 2026 ceremony took place in a stylish venue at the legendary The Shard. Boomerang Partners were shortlisted in the prestigious Best Affiliate Programme category. This marked a high recognition of the company’s achievements by industry leaders. In 2026, it celebrates its 5th anniversary. Boomerang has over 3,000 active affiliate partners, 10+ partner brands in its portfolio, and is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. Since July 2026, the partnership has entered its third season – a collaboration that has become a benchmark for cooperation between one of the world’s leading football clubs and a top iGaming company.

Kristina Shkredova, Affiliate Team Lead at Boomerang Partners, commented: “iGB L!VE London is always a powerful platform for meaningful dialogue and professional networking. This year, we felt a particularly strong interest in our sports-focused expertise, which confirms that affiliates are looking for deep market knowledge, not just traffic volumes. Now our sights are set on SBC Summit Lisbon, where we will once again connect with affiliates and showcase what we do best.”

What’s next

The next major industry exhibition where affiliate teams can see Boomerang Partners will be the SBC Summit Lisbon. The event will take place from September 29 to October 1, and the company has announced that it will also hold the Golden Boomerang Awards 2026 award ceremony in Lisbon. The TOP 30 teams of this landmark annual affiliate traffic tournament will visit a secret location, where the company will announce the winners in 11 categories. The third season is in full swing – affiliate teams can follow its progress or join the participation on the GBA’s official website.

About Boomerang

Boomerang Partners is a rapidly growing global marketing agency offering a wide range of services. Boomerang Partners is an Official Regional Partner of AC Milan. In 2024, it launched the inaugural Golden Boomerang Awards – a global tournament for affiliate teams. More than 400 affiliate teams participated in the second season of the tournament in 2025. Partners of the Agency launched six new products in 2024-2025, contributing to a nearly 1.5-fold increase in product users.

The Agency’s clients’ portfolio contains 10+ brands offering affiliate and entertainment services across multiple markets in compliance with local regulations. These products provide incentive programs and 24/7 multilingual support.

The post Boomerang Partners delivered expert sports insights during two days of iGB L!VE London 2026 appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Microgaming Live launches All-In Speed Baccarat with new interactive features

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Microgaming Live has launched All-In Speed Baccarat, a new live casino table that went live on 17 June. The product is positioned as an update to Speed Baccarat, adding new interactive and visual elements alongside the faster gameplay format.

The table uses a modern neon studio design intended to stand out in the lobby. Microgaming Live said it has also added engagement tools to make the experience feel more responsive during play.

New features include a mascot, Tokki, which reacts in real time to outcomes as well as Good Roads and Dragon Tail events. Players can use sticker reactions during gameplay and send gifts to presenters.

The table also introduces Mystery Box Rounds, which the company said allow players to earn points and unlock stickers and gifts.

A Microgaming spokesperson said: “All-In Speed Baccarat keeps the pace and familiarity that players already enjoy, while adding more energy and ways to engage with the table in real-time. The aim was to make the experience feel more rewarding and more immersive, without losing the speed and simplicity that makes baccarat such an enduring live casino format.”

The post Microgaming Live launches All-In Speed Baccarat with new interactive features appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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BOYLE Sports

BOYLE Sports rolls out Touch Bet across Digital Racing Post shop screens

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BOYLE Sports has launched Touch Bet across its Digital Racing Post Shops estate, adding a new touchscreen betting flow for horse racing customers. The rollout, announced 7th July, 2026, was developed with Spotlight Sports Group and is initially available on an exclusive basis to BOYLE Sports.

Touch Bet lets customers browse race meetings and build a racing bet on Digital Racing Post touchscreens in-shop. Once a bet is created, customers can either take it to the counter to place with staff or complete it in the BOYLE Sports app by scanning a QR code.

Philip Chubb, Retail Commercial Director at BOYLE Sports, said: “Touch Bet is a major step forward for our racing customers and marks a significant milestone in our retail offering. We know customers want more control, more convenience and a smoother experience when placing their bets. With Touch Bet, they can browse, build and place their racing bets in the way that suits them, whether that’s at the counter or through our app.

“We’re especially proud that this is an industry-exclusive launch for BOYLE Sports. It gives our shop customers first access to a new way of betting and shows our continued commitment to investing in better retail and digital experiences.”

Jon Sanders, Head of Retail Development at Spotlight Sports Group, added: “BOYLE Sports’ Touch Bet represents a true first in the retail environment, combining the quality betting experience honed by BOYLE Sports with the premium Racing Post content presented on the Digital Display Screens. BOYLE Sports are the ideal partner to work alongside in developing and launching the product.. By bringing the trusted expertise behind Racing Post onto the shop floor, we are giving customers a more intuitive and efficient way to build and place their bets. Retail remains a vital part of the betting experience, and we are proud to support BOYLE Sports as they continue to connect digital and in-shop betting.”

BOYLE Sports positioned the launch as part of a wider omnichannel strategy and pointed to a £100m investment in the UK market last year. The operator also referenced existing product work including Smart ACCA, described as a data-led accumulator tool across football and horse racing.

The post BOYLE Sports rolls out Touch Bet across Digital Racing Post shop screens appeared first on EE Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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