For recently retired soccer legends Gerard Pique, Kaka, Miguel Layun, Claudio Marchisio, and Bastian Schweinsteiger, their association with World Cups is nothing new. These five have played at a total of 13 World Cups and won three, but they met not to reminisce about their glorious careers but to discuss critics of the Kings League, among other topics.
“Thank you for the haters,” Layun expressed during a virtual press conference. “We appreciate haters here. We are circus performers; it’s all about entertainment, and haters are part of it.”
The Kings League has become one of soccer’s newest talking points, viewed by some as a fresh way to engage a younger audience and by others as a gimmick. Founded in 2022 by Pique as his major project post-retirement, this seven-a-side league originates from Spain and is set to host its second World Cup in Paris next month. Known for its unique rules and constant changes, the Kings League prohibits ties, allows unlimited substitutions, and can reduce matches to one-on-one situations.
The format seems to be tailored for Gen Z and Gen Alpha, who often engage in video games with ever-changing rules. Pique argues that traditional 90-minute matches are “too long” and claims that data shows younger audiences prefer shorter engagements.
Despite the controversies, Pique insists that the Kings League is not intended to rival traditional soccer. “We always say we are complementary to football,” he stated. “Films and series are different but similar products—people enjoy both. They can watch traditional football on TV while also engaging with Kings League on their phones or tablets.”
The league has garnered significant attention, attracting over 100 million unique viewers during the previous Kings World Cup, with the finals hitting a peak of 3.5 million live streams.
The emphasis on entertainment rather than strict competition makes the Kings League a topical subject in soccer discussions. When criticized, Pique stated, “We take it lightly. For instance, when La Liga President Javier Tebas labeled us a circus, we had player Sergio Aguero dress as a clown during a match.”
Ultimately, the retired soccer players express their love for football as entertainment. “As kids, we dreamed of playing not just to win but for the joy of the game,” Layun added.
