From LIV Golf to the XFL: Five of sport's most spectacular failures

The National · Andy Lewis · 2026-11-06 09:00 UTC

Disruptor golf league joins list of projects that promised to change the game but ended in disaster

The least surprising news of the week arrived on Friday when it was confirmed that LIV Golf is facing liquidation.

The writing was on the wall for the disruptor competition once Saudi Arabia pulled its funding in April. LIV ended up being a financial black hole, estimated to have squandered in the region of $5 billion through its failed attempt to take over world golf.

At least in the sheer scale of its losses, LIV will go down as one of the most catastrophic ventures in sports and entertainment history. That said, it has plenty of competition. Below are five of sport's biggest miscues.

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