Toca Football, Inc., the largest indoor soccer center operator in North America and the official soccer training partner of Major League Soccer, raised approximately $100 million in private funding.
The company reported in a media release that it will use the influx of capital to “accelerate growth by investing in new technologies, upgrading its Toca Soccer training centers and opening additional soccer-themed Toca Social entertainment venues.
Toca raised its Series F funding round from existing shareholders and new investors. Notably, Jim Kavanaugh, founder and CEO of World Wide Technology and co-owner of the professional soccer team St. Louis City SC, and members of his leadership team, including Bill Anderson, former chairman and CEO of Anderson Holdings, founder of First Beverage Group, and founder of June Street Capital; Jared Smith, co-founder of Qualtrics; and Magnus Carlsen, chess grandmaster and soccer enthusiast, all participated in the round, as did existing investor and England men’s national team captain Harry Kane, who recently renewed his brand ambassador agreement with Toca.
Toca raised additional funds to construct its first U.S. Toca Social entertainment venue in partnership with MLS, with plans to open the Texas-based venue at The Colony’s Grandscape before the 2026 World Cup.
Toca Social operates at London’s The O2 and Birmingham’s Bullring & Grand Central. Earlier this year, Toca also announced a partnership with Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield to open Toca Social venues in Continental Europe and its first franchise deal in Mexico with Ventura Entertainment. These venues are planned to open in London, Paris and Monterrey in 2025.
New investor Jim Kavanaugh said, “Toca’s unique approach—combining personalized, data-driven training with engaging, soccer-themed entertainment—has captivated a global audience, from elite athletes to young players discovering the game for the first time. With a presence in key markets, Toca is poised to redefine the future of soccer on a global scale.”
Toca Co-Chairman and WestRiver Group Founder and CEO, Erik Anderson said, “I am excited to welcome our new shareholders and to work with WWT as a key technology partner. Their exceptional experience in propelling the world’s largest and most innovative organizations will be vital in driving Toca’s growth.”
“Soccer is the world’s most popular sport with massive tailwinds for growth in the U.S.,” said Yoshi Maruyama, CEO of Toca. “This new capital infusion empowers us to scale our brand and to bring our cutting-edge training methods and immersive experiences to millions of guests around the world. We are incredibly grateful for the trust and confidence of our investors, both old and new, as we unlock our strategic vision with our partner MLS, who share our passion for advancing the beautiful game.”
Image courtesy Toca Football
