Prematch, the fast-growing football startup redefining grassroots engagement, has announced that World Cup champion and six-time Champions League winner Toni Kroos has joined the company as an investor.
His support marks a major milestone in the platform’s mission to bring data-driven insights and community features to the heart of grassroots football.
Revolutionising Grassroots Football
Prematch is a community-centric, data-powered platform designed for the more than 50 million active players, coaches, and fans across Germany and England. Since its launch in England in September 2024, Prematch has climbed the App Store charts, achieving rapid traction with players from 82% of all English football teams.
In Germany, Prematch already boasts adoption by players from 98% of all football teams. With over 50,000 matches covered every weekend, users receive real-time updates, personalised content, and access to player profiles, making Prematch the digital home for grassroots football.
When you look at football as a whole, grassroots football is the foundation of everything. It’s played with the same passion and dedication as the professional game. Supporting and professionalising amateur football through Prematch is fantastic.
said Toni Kroos.
Toni Kroos
Data-Driven and Player-Focused
Prematch combines a unique approach to community with data insights traditionally reserved for professional leagues. Every player gets a personal profile with performance stats, while fans can follow their favourite local teams and players. The platform incorporates gamification elements to reward engagement and performance, bridging the experience between grassroots and elite-level football.
There’s nothing quite like Prematch at this scale. The sheer number of covered players and the ambition to elevate grassroots football through data convinced me.
said Kroos.
Synergies with the Toni Kroos Academy
The investment by Kroos will also spark collaborative opportunities with the Toni Kroos Academy, which focuses on youth development through camps and curated training experiences.
At our Academy, kids train with exercises I’ve used throughout my youth and professional career. Prematch opens access to insights that were once limited to the pros. Together, we can make a real impact on youth football.
said Kroos.
Prematch founders are equally enthusiastic:
We see huge potential in combining our platform’s youth-focused features with Toni’s experience and values. We’re thrilled to have him on board.
Backed by Top-Tier Investors
Kroos joins a group of elite investors including:
Ralf Reichert, CEO of ESL
The family office of Jürgen Klopp
Top business angels across tech, media, and sports
Prematch has already raised over €6 million in external funding and launched brand partnerships with Gatorade and adidas, fueling its international expansion.
Meet the Team Behind Prematch
Prematch was founded in July 2021 in Cologne, Germany, by a team united by their love for football and drive to digitise the grassroots experience. The startup has quickly grown to a team of around 18 people and is supported by high-profile investors from both the tech and sports industries.
Prematch also participated in the prestigious WHU Accelerator programme, contributing to the team’s rapid development and visibility in the European startup ecosystem.
The leadership team is widely recognised for its commitment to grassroots football and its innovative, data-first approach to transforming amateur sports.
Prematch team
Building Football’s Digital Home
Prematch is now Europe’s fastest-growing team sport platform, offering an experience comparable to LinkedIn, Instagram, or Strava—but for football. With its launch in England and continued growth in Germany, Prematch is bringing professional-level features to the amateur game.
Our platform delivers personalised grassroots news, in-depth statistics, and interactive profiles that mirror the engagement people expect from today’s best social apps.
said the founders.
Prematch continues to expand its user base, product features, and global reach—all with grassroots football at its core. With Toni Kroos on board, the startup is better positioned than ever to shape the future of football from the ground up.
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