Axel Springer expands digital sports portfolio
August 6, 2026



Axel Springer, the media and technology company based in Germany, has acquired a majority stake in the Brazilian football app Futez, further expanding its digital sports portfolio for the BILD Group, which includes brands such as SPORT BILD, Transfermarkt, and TorAlarm. The app was founded by Brazilian entrepreneurs João Tomazetti Scholz and Giuliano Reginatto, who will continue to serve as managing directors.

Futez is a growing football app in Brazil that launched in 2025. The platform enables fans to rate matches, write reviews, vote for the best players, and evaluate factors such as the in-stadium atmosphere and refereeing performance. In doing so, they create a digital archive of personal football moments they can share with others. More than 100,000 users have already submitted over 900,000 match ratings and 4.5 million player ratings.


João Tomazetti Scholz, Founder Futez, commented: “Football is one of the few things people still experience together, but there was never a place to keep a record of it. Futez turns what a fan feels during a match into something they can revisit and share. With Axel Springer we can build that for supporters far beyond Brazil.”

In addition, Axel Springer has invested in the Israeli AI platform Marquee. Marquee consolidates data from multiple sources, including tracking data, video footage and scouting reports, helping football clubs and federations make faster and better-informed decisions. More than 20 professional clubs and federations already use the platform, including organisations from the Premier League, Serie A and MLS. Marquee is also developing solutions for other sports and is already working with teams from the NBA and the EuroLeague in basketball.

Selina Wahl, General Manager SPORT and Portfolio, BILD. added: “Digital platforms are transforming sports both on and off the field. With Futez and Marquee, we are investing in exactly these two dimensions: the passion of fans and the tools that enable clubs to make better decisions. Through both investments, we are further expanding BILD’s digital sports portfolio internationally.”