Why America's super rich have embraced the appeal of British soccer teams

SWANSEA, WALES - FEBRUARY 24: Swansea City AFC club co-owner Snoop Dogg walks around the pitch prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Swansea City and Preston North End at the Swansea.com Stadium on February 24, 2026 in Swansea, Wales. (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)Athena Pictures | Getty Images Sport | Getty ImagesAs the dust settles after the FIFA World Cup, soccer fans' attention turns to the start of Europe's domestic league seasons. The English Premier League — by some distance the most popular soccer league in the world — kicks off once again on August 21 with champions Arsenal launching their title defense.Growing American interest in the league is evident not just in broadcast viewing figures and social media hype — but increasingly in boardrooms, too. English soccer clubs, or football clubs, per the sport's more common global name, have become hot commodities for ultra-rich and institutional ownership over the years. What began with the Glazer family's takeover of Manchester United in 2005 has proliferated to American control of 11 of the 20 current Premier League sides.Further down the pyramid league system, smaller clubs have also attracted the interest...