Why are Mexican football clubs so popular with US investors?

Last week, reports emerged from the Daily Mail that Burnley owners ALK Capital were considering a deal to purchase Mexican top division team Club León. Whether that deal materialises remains to be seen.

Regardless, ALK's exploration of a deal for León is another illustration of the growing trend of interest from American investors into Mexican football teams. Last year, American private equity giant General Atlantic took a stake in arguably Mexico's most famous club, Club América.

Innovatio Capital, an investment firm headed by Kentucky-based Marc Spiegel, also purchased a club in 2025, taking ownership of Querétaro. Investment has even flowed in beneath Liga MX level, with the Blue Crow Sports Group taking ownership of Cancún FC in 2021.

This raises a fundamental question - why? Why are institutional American investors like General Atlantic and Innovatio Capital taking stakes in Liga MX teams, rather than MLS equivalents?

One answer is simple: relative cost. For American investors coming from the ecosystem of Major League Soccer, Liga MX teams look like a bargain.

Insight Eleven's internal data shows Major League Soccer teams having an average valuation of just under $700m. Compare this to the reported valuation at which General Atlantic purchased a stake in Club América - $490m - and it begins to become clear why Mexican teams appeal to value-chasing American investors.

For just over half the cost of an average Major League Soccer franchise, an investor can take ownership of one of the biggest brands in Mexican football. In addition, Mexican teams are attractive because, in some cases, the owners have no choice but to sell.

In April 2026, Liga MX owners voted to prohibit owners from owning multiple teams in Liga MX, a practice that previously was commonplace. As such, ownership groups like Grupo Pachuca - owners of Club León and CF Pachuca - have no choice but to divest a team.

Such a scenario offers additional leverage to buyers, who are negotiating in the knowledge that the incumbent owner must sell the team soon. Beyond relative cost however, many believe that Liga MX simply offers more potential than an investment in an MLS team because Americans prefer to watch Liga MX games than domestic alternatives.