Fanzo expands to US ahead of World Cup

Fanzo, a London-founded app that helps users find pubs showing live sports, is expanding its operations into the United States. The company announced a partnership with Michelob Ultra, a sponsor of the upcoming World Cup, as a key part of its strategy to capture the American market.

Founded in 2010 and previously known as MatchPint, Fanzo rebranded in 2022 to facilitate its global expansion. The app currently operates in nine countries, including the UK, Australia, France, and the US, and boasts 7.5 million users worldwide. Founder Leo MacLehose stated that major sporting events like the World Cup are significant for the business, driving user inquiries for venues, especially those with extended licenses for late-night or early-morning games.

Fanzo's business model is free for sports fans but generates revenue by charging venues for marketing services to promote themselves as destinations for watching major games. MacLehose noted that the increasing fragmentation of sports broadcasting rights benefits Fanzo by making it more difficult for bars to track and advertise which games they are showing.

Looking ahead, Fanzo plans to expand into Canada, Mexico, and other European countries after its US push. MacLehose also commented on the resilience of Fanzo's model in the age of AI, asserting that while search methods may change, the demand for offline social experiences remains strong.