Germany’s The Icon League Scores €15M Series A To Expand Five-A-Side Football Format And €500K Prize Pool

The Icon League’s €15 million Series A round was led by HV Capital, which also appointed former partner David Fischer as CEO to drive the league’s next phase of growth. Existing investors including Jürgen Klopp’s family office, entrepreneur Thomas Hagedorn, and Luigi Berlusconi’s H14 S.p.A. remain onboard.

The funding will help the league expand across Europe, strengthen team operations, and solidify its position as an international sports brand built on competitive integrity and a fan-first approach.

This investment stands out in Europe’s growing SportsTech landscape, where most recent rounds such as ReSpo.Vision (€4.2M, Poland), Sports Impact Technologies (€650K, Ireland), Jabbr.ai (€4.3M, Denmark), and Weebora (€1.3M, Italy) focused on analytics, wearables, or niche sports.

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By contrast, The Icon League represents one of the largest 2025 financings in sports entertainment, following the regional trend sparked by Germany’s Baller League which raised €31 million in 2024 to expand its indoor football format internationally.

Founded in 2024 by Toni Kroos and Elias Nerlich The Icon League has quickly become a fan favorite among younger audiences in German-speaking regions. Its first season drew over 1.3 billion social media impressions with current matchdays attracting up to 3 million viewers and live events selling out arenas of 20,000 fans.

Using a US-style franchise model, the 14-team league allows independent team operations within transfer windows.The top four playoff teams share €500K in prize money and several franchises have achieved six-figure profits since Season1.

Games are played indoors in a five-a-side format with two 12-minute halves and “Rulebreaker” twists to enhance attacking play, featuring a mix of former Bundesliga players and elite amateurs.

About The Icon League

The Icon League is a next-generation football league in the DACH region, founded by German football legend Toni Kroos and top global streamer Elias Nerlich. Supported by Sports360, TwoSides, and RABONA, the league unites sports, entertainment, and creator culture to redefine modern football and create #newhorizons in the game.