Baller League Secures Major UK Broadcast Deal Ahead of Star-Studded Draft
The highly anticipated Baller League is set to kick off TONIGHT, bringing an exciting array of famous personalities into the mix. This six-a-side football competition has already garnered immense success in Germany, where it was founded by football icons Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski. The league made its debut in the UK last week, igniting a wave of enthusiasm among fans.
The Baller League launched in the UK to much fanfare at the Copper Box Arena in London. In the opening week, John Terry’s team, the 26ers, unfortunately, faced a defeat. Notably, YouTuber and boxing sensation KSI has taken on the role of president for the UK version, while American streaming star iShowSpeed will oversee the league in the US.
A captivating advertisement, reminiscent of the iconic Nike Brazil commercial from the 1998 World Cup, showcased football legends including John Terry and Luis Figo, who will serve as team managers. Additionally, former Match of the Day presenters Gary Lineker, Micah Richards, and Alan Shearer will each lead a team. Arsenal Invincibles alumni Freddie Ljungberg, Jens Lehmann, and Robert Pires are also on board, along with Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly, as well as Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama. Sidemen members Miniminter and Tobi, along with YouTubers AngryGinge and Sharky, have also stepped into managerial roles.
Furthermore, Brit Award-winning artist and platinum-selling star Dave will manage Santan FC, while fashion influencer Clint 419 will helms FC Rules the World. Baller League CEO, Felix Starck, emphasized the innovative approach of the league, stating, “Baller League is a brand new way to consume football. We’re redefining how the game is played by bringing an exhilarating and authentic approach to football, appealing to both current fans and future generations. Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football. We’re creating a version of the game that’s impossible to ignore – thrilling, bold, and packed with excitement.”
Following the tournament’s successful opening night, teams are now allowed to incorporate WILD CARD players starting from tonight. John Terry’s 26ers experienced a tough start, while AngryGinge’s Yanited showcased their prowess with an impressive 7-2 victory. SunSport has highlighted some of the standout players to keep an eye on after the first round of matches.
What is Baller League?
Baller League is an innovative weekly indoor football tournament featuring legendary footballers and other well-known stars managing the teams. A total of twelve teams will compete in thrilling six-a-side matches, with the top four teams of the league advancing to the final playoff scheduled for June to determine the ultimate champion. The format draws inspiration from Gerard Pique’s Kings League in Spain and the German version of the Baller League.
When is Baller League Coming to the UK?
- The inaugural night of Baller League took place on Monday, March 24.
- Matches will continue for 11 consecutive Monday nights until June.
- Each match night consists of six 30-minute games.
- All matches will be hosted at London’s Copper Box Arena.
What are the Baller League Rules?
- Matches will be played in a six-a-side format on a compact indoor pitch.
- Each half of the game will last for 15 minutes.
- Unique rule twists will be introduced during the final three minutes of each half, including a three vs three format, long-range goals counting as double, and goalkeepers being restricted from using their hands.
- These twists will be randomized for every match.
- One-on-one penalties, similar to those used in MLS, will be implemented.
- There will be a total of 12 teams in the league, with the top four advancing to the playoffs.
- The league is set to commence in March 2025, culminating in the final four playoffs in June.
- Wild card players will be introduced starting from Night 2 (March 31).
Is Baller League on TV and Can it be Live Streamed?
- After weeks of speculation regarding UK broadcasting rights, it has been confirmed that Sky Sports has secured a one-year deal.
- Matches will also be available for viewing on NOWTV.
- Every match will be broadcasted on the channel, hosted by Chunkz and Olivia Buzaglo.
- Baller League UK’s official YouTube and Twitch channels will stream all the action live.
- Coverage kicks off at 5:15 PM, with the first match set to start at 5:35 PM.
- Additionally, SunSport will provide a LIVE BLOG of the action as it unfolds.
Who is Playing in the Baller League?
26ers – Managed by John Terry
- Squad: J’ardell Stirling, Bilal Sayoud, Sak Hassan, Kojo Apenteng, Marcel Lewis, Jordon Ibe, Matt Chizzum, Emmanuel Rowe, Justin Dass, Spike Stegel, Vladislav Platinov, Jack Crook.
Deportrio – Managed by Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, and Gary Lineker
- Squad: Bakary Sako, Adam Dawson, Francis Gerald Mapolo, Zach Fagan, Marvin Sordell, Charlie Kuehn, Tommy Scott, Raphael Gas, Alex Dyer, Ruben Singale, Tristan Goodridge, Leo Serri.
FC Rules the World – Managed by Clint 419
- Squad: Michael Ndiweni, Josh Harrop, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Kevin Gonzalez, Oliver Bosworth, Karim Kamhouri, Erghis Pepy, Onuchi Oki, Yusuf Shentu, Alamiji Oluma, Sandro Kamara, Festus Chalet.
M7 FC – Managed by Miniminter
- Squad: Jesse Waller-Lassen, Femi Akinwande, Stefan Ilic, Jean Belehouan, Toby Bull, Sam Fitzgerald, Arjun Young, Ramez Gonzalo, Arin Zaha, Lewis Garcia, Henry Wise, Zion Nditi.
MVPs United – Managed by Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama
- Squad: Lorenzo Spinelli, Ashton Peltier, Jake Chambers Shaw, Ross Derham, Josh Misoki, James Canton, Alfie Matthew, Declan McCarthy, Jay Beckford, Joe Edwards, Dwayne Suel, Esteban Salgado.
N5 FC – Managed by Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires, and Freddie Ljungberg
- Squad: Owen Locke, Adrian Mariappa, Brian Ly, Charlie Wakefield, Dayo Adekayo, Chris Arba, Imran Kahani, Michael Class, James Alabi, Troy Molunda, Freddie Berrati, Callum Charlton.
Santan FC – Managed by Dave
- Squad: Michael Hill, Richard Kesey, Dominic Voss, Erick Kenco, Ranell McKenzie Lowes, Jamell Abou-Bakare, Rico Okinari, David Upu, Abdullah Gervardi, Jack Wilson, David Solidemi, Luka Valentine.
SDS FC – Managed by Sharky
- Squad: Bruno Andrade, Bayley Brown, Ody Alfa, Cole Da Silva, David Marques Castanho, Calvin Dickson, Big John, Camillo Astreppo, Finley Chadwick, Michael Felibe, Hussein Mahdi, Tyler Edmundson.
Trebol FC – Managed by Luis Figo
- Squad: Montel McKenzie, Vani Da Silva, Ciaran Clark, Isaac Modi, Ethan Oke, Reggie, Emi, Ryan Gorwell, Jordan Brown, Shani Omed, Aaron Steven, Nathan Bowen.
VZN FC – Managed by Tobi Brown
- Squad: Henri Lansbury, Kurtice Herbert, Jerome Sinclair, Remy Mitchell, Montel McKenzie, Florian Kastrati, Michael Olive-Wigan, Barrell Mensah, Ethan McClear, Diego Dombaboni, Jami Kheresi, Luka Barusic.
Wembley Rangers – Managed by Ian Wright and Chloe Kelly
- Squad: Domingos Pires, Check Fayum, Ben Long, Stuart Cook, Oliver Cannon, Juan Pablo, Ruben Junior, Luke Gambin, Kaylen Kofi, Braden Shaw, Joseph Diomande, Nabid Eshari.
Yanited – Managed by AngryGinge
- Squad: Kadell Daniel, Michael Hector, Mohammed Mahyoub, Remy Clerima, Percy Kiangebeni, Medy Elito, Max Pitman, Harry Cain, Henry O’Shea, Daniel Thompson, Daniel Woods, Pharrel Mensah.
Baller League Schedule and Results
Matchday 1: March 24
- Game 1: Yanited 7-2 N5
- Game 2: FC RTW 4-5 MVPs United
- Game 3: SDS 5-2 26ers
- Game 4: Trebol 4-6 Santan FC
- Game 5: M7 3-2 Wembley Rangers
- Game 6: Deportrio 6-3 VZN
Matchday 2: March 31
- Game 1: MVPs United vs M7 – 5:35 PM
- Game 2: Wembley Rangers vs VZN – 6:35 PM
- Game 3: N5 vs Deportrio – 7:35 PM
- Game 4: 26ers vs Yanited – 8:35 PM
- Game 5: Santan FC vs SDS – 9:35 PM
- Game 6: FC RTW vs Trebol – 10:35 PM
Matchday 3: April 7
Matchday 4: April 14
Matchday 5: April 21
Matchday 6: April 28
Matchday 7: May 5
Matchday 8: May 12
Matchday 9: May 19
Matchday 10: May 26
Matchday 11: June 6
Final Four Day: June 11