All across the globe, football is a game to reckon with. It is the biggest sport with an estimated global fan base of over 4 billion viewers. Known as soccer by Canadians and Americans, football has grown from just a sporting activity to a business hub for people in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
Unlike in the past, there are now a lot of business opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors in football. Depending on the competition in question, millions of people are put in jobs at one point or another, with the World Cup being the most eventful of all. Even during the offseasons, there are lot of football opportunities generating billions of dollars yearly.
If you’re looking for football business opportunities to take advantage of, here are 35+ lucrative football business ideas to start in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
See Also: 15 Lucrative Sports Business Ideas & Opportunities
1). Viewing Center Business:
Football lovers all over the world love to keep up with live games. Where there is no direct access to these games in their homes, sports lovers resort to viewing centres to watch football games. Viewing centres are situated everywhere in Africa, including villages, small towns and cities.
Most viewers prefer the atmosphere of viewing centres since it provides an avenue for fun and maximum enjoyment while seeing a game. With a good location, quality TV display and comfortable seats in place, this business is bound to soar in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
2). Ball Production Business:
Producing football is an activity that requires expertise. Besides the fact that the ball has to meet the size requirement of 28 inches in circumference, texture also plays a role in determining the quality of a football.
Moreover, there is always a market for football. Virtually every day, football is played across different parts of the world, both at professional and non-professional levels. And this establishes a steady demand for balls all year in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world
3). Football Academy:
Football academies are training centres built specifically to help talented players hone their skills. Most players who have gone on to become great players in history passed through football academies at one point or another in their careers.
Starting a football academy in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world requires state-of-the-art facilities and experienced trainers.
4). Start A Football Club:
Whereas starting a football club seems like a rather costly business in football, it is a dependable football business idea one can start in Nigeria or Africa at large. Starting a football club also gives room for investment from other interested investors. As the team gets to participate in recognized competitions, they create room for more business.
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5). Pitch Construction Business:
Pitch construction is one of the advanced and highly lucrative football business ideas that keeps a lot of people employed. Although it is a contract job, developing pitches requires an in-depth understanding of the most suitable field types that work for each location and topography.
6). Pitch Maintenance Business:
Whether it is a sole pitch or one located in a stadium, pitches require regular maintenance both before and after each use. To keep pitches in the best shape possible, they require consistent maintenance all year round in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
One can combine this business with pitch construction or stick to maintaining existing football pitches.
7). Football Kit Production Business:
Every football club, whether professional or amateur, requires a branded set of kits to distinguish them from other clubs. Similarly, fans and football lovers all across the globe buy jerseys and kits from their favourite clubs.
This makes producing football kits a highly lucrative business idea in football. To top it all, one can lobby for contracts to design and produce kits for football clubs in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
8). Become A Football Scout:
Africa is blessed with talented players who have yet to be professionally trained. As a professional football scout, it is your job to travel around streets in the continent and find such talents for grooming. This is possible by working with local academies and youth football clubs across the country.
9). Football Radio Show:
Talking about football could rake in a lot of money! This involves organizing radio talk shows and inviting football analysts to analyze results and performance and also make predictions about games. Talk shows also involve giving fans at home opportunities to call in and air their opinions about matches, football events and scores, among others.
10). Football TV Show:
Like radio shows, TV programs and shows are business opportunities for people willing to combine their love for sports with the media. Starting a football TV show requires some media skills and presentation skills.
With such skills in place, one can strike a contract with a TV station to air the sports programme at a favourable time of the day when people are relaxed for sports talks.
11). Football Magazine Production Business:
Here is another opportunity to harness one’s media skills in football. Producing football magazines seem to be going out of vogue but it is still a business with a lot of revenue. Whether it is a print magazine or an electronic one, it is important to get this business right from the start.
See Also: How To Start A Lucrative Magazine Business In Nigeria: The Complete Guide
12). Football Newspaper Business:
Similarly, another viable business in the media one can combine with sports is to publish newspapers daily or weekly on sports events. Since most football games are played on weekends, publishing once a week is a much better idea in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
Irrespective of the time of publication, what is most important is to target the right audience and establish a reliable distribution outlet.
13). Become A Referee:
Referees are important officials in a football game. They are trained personnel whose judgment must not be clouded by support or love for one club or another because they influence the game strongly.
For individuals interested in joining the industry, becoming a referee is a viable choice because it requires little effort besides training.
14). Become A Football Team Coach:
Just as there is no football game without a referee, so is there no football club without a coach or manager. In certain parts of the world, coaches are handsomely paid because their services are important for the football club’s success.
Becoming a coach requires detailed training, personal development and technical input. One must be able to read the football game properly and maximize available talents.
15). Start A Football Website:
The internet is rich with sports websites that publish news about football activities. Besides news, they also post transfer rumours, results and fixtures as well as every other useful information about the sport that could catch the attention of fans worldwide.
The interesting thing is that despite the teeming number of websites revolving around football, there is always room for newcomers in the business. Since it is a digital business, success comes down to the richness of content and SEO strategies, among others.
See Also: How To Start A Blog — The Complete Beginner Guide
16). Live Streaming Business:
Where people do not have access to TV viewership or the time to visit a viewing centre, they prefer streaming football games online using their mobile phones. Therefore, starting a streaming platform could be a lucrative and pretty way to earn money from football.
This involves buying streaming rights and setting up a reliable website where people can watch their favourite games.
17). Football Photography:
Every football game is an embodiment of memories that both players and fans would love to relive. This need makes football photography an indispensable service in the game. Becoming a football photographer requires adequate training and the right gadgets since the players are always in motion. Hence, it is important to capture beautiful images at the right time.
See Also: How To Start A Lucrative Photography Business In Nigeria: The Complete Guide
18). Football Video Coverage:
Like photography, video coverage of football games is also important because, without this service, viewers at home would be denied access to their favourite games. You can work as an independent football videographer, but it is more common to work with a streaming platform or recognized media house.
19). Football Video Games Design Business:
Given their love for football, people enjoy playing football video games where they get to use their favourite clubs and players to simulate live football experiences. Football games have continued to grow with the game over the years, as gamers can now manage teams, buy players, and play with other gamers online.
Developing football games never runs out of style. In as much as people get pleasure from the game, they are bound to play them.
20). Training School For Officials:
Referees and other officials need proper training to officiate a football game adequately and without bias. Hence, starting a training school for officials is a great way to delve into the football business world. There is a regular demand for training facilities and services, hence, this business promises to increase in value over the years.
21). Jersey Retail Business:
For entrepreneurs with little capital, a jersey retail business is a good choice. The jerseys are for budding football clubs and sports lovers across the world. Already, there are existing boutiques that sell jerseys in bits. Retailing them in large quantities and supplying them to people who need them can be a great business.
22). Open A Football Equipment Shop:
For optimal performance, both professional and amateur football teams use training equipment, ranging from cones to poles and hurdles, among others. As a football equipment shopkeeper, your business involves stocking such equipment and distributing them to teams in need of them.
23). Football Betting Business:
Passion is a strong part of football. Recently, people have developed an interest in getting rewards for their passion through predictions and bets. There are more digital vetting platforms in existence than would have been considered possible in about two decades to come.
Notwithstanding, the current reality is that entrepreneurs can now make money out of starting a betting platform for sports lovers across the globe to participate and possibly win money just from predicting outcomes.
24). Ticket Sales Business:
Ticket sales are one of the ways football clubs earn revenue. Besides selling tickets online for people separated by distance, it could also be a business opportunity for interested individuals. Retailing games tickets helps to bridge the gaps between buyers and the clubs. The biggest part of the job lies in gaining popularity as an established ticket retailer. Once that is done, you will get patronage.
25). Player Management:
A professional football player needs the services of an agent who represents and undertakes the business part of their career. Beyond agents, players also use the help of professional management teams who oversee their careers, diet, and other non-personal activities. Individuals with the right training and networking can start a player management business or render the services of an agent.
See Also: How To Start A Lucrative Waste Collection Business In Nigeria: The Complete Guide
26). Live Football Commentaries:
Live commentaries make football games more fun and interesting to watch. Such commentaries can also be aired on the radio for the benefit of people who are not privileged to watch the games. Some commentators have established themselves in the commentaries business, and it is not just a well-paid role but a job that can earn them fame. Skills required include eloquence and in-depth knowledge of football history.
27). Sports League Organization:
Organizing a football league in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world sounds like a lot to do but it is indeed a lucrative activity with a great business prospect. Local competitions and tournaments are common in Africa. They are not only opportunities for discovering talents but can also be a great source of income through sponsorships, with the right strategies in place.
28). Become A Private Coach:
Most players employ the services of personal coaches for continuous development. The coach is responsible for identifying the lapses of the player and developing strategies to help them increase their abilities. As a retired footballer or professional coach, one can render such services and get paid handsomely in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
29). Personal Fitness Trainer:
Staying fit physically is a core demand in football. Players who have fitness challenges, probably while recovering from an injury need the services of a professional fitness trainer. This is an opportunity for fitness experts. With the right networking, one can get employed by professional footballers.
30). Football Club Social Media Management:
Thanks to the presence of social media platforms, football clubs and players can now interact with their fans and followers from all over the world. However, given that there are other important issues to deal with, they leave their social media management to professional managers. Such individuals interact with the public, and update them with club news and other relevant information that pertain to the club or player.
31). Become A Football Physical Therapist:
Injuries are inevitable in football. When such accidents occur, players are entrusted with the care of professional therapists who are often in-house. In essence, each club employs a team of medics who look after the physical health of their players. Where the injuries are severe and require advanced attention, they work with hospitals to ensure adequate care for the players.
32). Jersey Customization Business:
Jersey customization is a common practice among sports lovers in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. People love to inscribe their names on the jerseys of their favorite clubs or teams. Based on this, customizing jerseys brings in easy money in Nigeria and beyond.
This is a business anyone can practice, ranging from students to jersey retailers. While it requires some training, it is relatively hassle-free.
33). Start A YouTube Football Training Show:
There are a lot of amateur footballers in Nigeria and other African countries looking to increase their game. Where there is no access to personal trainers, they resort to online instructional videos. This creates a business opportunity for coaches and sports trainers.
This business involves creating videos on different aspects of football skills and improvements and posting them on YouTube. You can stick to organic growth or use sponsored ads to publicize the channel.
34). Become A Sports Blogger:
Sports blogging is an interesting niche in blogging, thanks to the fact that sports never run out of content. There are always engaging topics around football, including transfer rumours, banters, sores, fixtures, and so on.
35). Football App Development Business:
Software applications are important in running football activities, ranging from bets to games. Similarly, clubs now have mobile applications for their fans to keep up with the activities in the club.
As tech experts, it is possible to make a living in the football world. You can develop these apps for clubs, bet companies and other institutions in football that require such services. Or launch an independent app and monetize it in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
36). Start A Trials Camp:
Trials are special occasions where grassroots talents are discovered. Scouts organize such events in partnership with local sports bodies and football clubs to help them see young players in action. Lots of professional players have passed through trials and gone on to become great names in football.
Notably, one can start a trials camp and get sponsorships from academies, clubs and other sports bodies in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
See Also: 25+ Lucrative Transport Business Ideas & Opportunities In Nigeria or Africa
To Sum It Up
There is no going back on the global impact of football in the sports community. It remains the biggest and most lucrative game that’s ever been played. Football continues to create opportunities across the globe, and it’s left to insightful entrepreneurs to identify and develop these opportunities. If you’re looking for football business opportunities to take advantage of, you can choose any of these 35+ lucrative football business ideas to start in Nigeria, Africa and many places around the world.
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