Man v Fat soccer league expands in U.S., drawing hefty players in Dallas suburbs

Man v Fat, a soccer league founded in Britain in 2014 that is reserved for heavier players, has expanded to the United States and now operates leagues in states including New York, New Jersey, Florida and Texas. In suburban Dallas, teams such as Fat Man United and Totten-Ham and Cheese meet for indoor matches and weekly weigh-ins.

Players are measured before each match — height, weight and waist circumference — and standings are based both on games won and on pounds lost. The league, which expanded to the U.S. in 2024, charges participants $99 monthly and requires a body mass index of at least 27.5 to join; the organization says its players in Britain have lost a collective 900,000 pounds, “equal to over 82 elephants.” Matches are 28 minutes long, played on a small indoor pitch where the ball can bounce off the walls, and many participants say the combination of competition, weekly accountability and social camaraderie helps them change diet and exercise habits.

Players describe a range of results and approaches: one man said he fell from 330 to 280 pounds after joining, another reported dropping from 429 to 333 and said he used the drug Mounjaro, and some players reject medication in favor of diet and exercise.

Key Topics

Sports, Man V Fat, Dallas, Fat Man United, Mounjaro, Body Mass Index