Good morning all,
Did you know… The US Dollar dropped 13.49% against the Mexican Peso in 2025, and for Mexican footballer Hirving "Chucky" Lozano at Real Salt Lake, that currency swing could cost him serious money.
With approximately 40% of MLS players being foreign nationals, that's roughly 320+ international players earning USD salaries but sending money home in different currencies.
The Numbers Game:
Chucky's reported $5+ million salary in January 2025: ~105 million pesos
Same salary by December 2025: ~89 million pesos
Currency cost: 16 million pesos (~$675,000 USD)
That's more than some entire MLS squads' annual wage bill — lost purely to poor exchange rate timing.
The Bigger Picture: With 320+ international players from dozens of countries, MLS has become a foreign exchange minefield. Most players are using traditional banks, paying 3-4% in hidden fees plus terrible timing on major transfers.
Imagine if Chucky had locked in better rates at the right time — that's an extra $675,000 in his pocket. Multiply that challenge across hundreds of international players, and we're talking tens of millions in collective losses from poor FX timing.
Hirving "Chucky" Lozano
Australian Dollar Wins Big This Week
This morning, Australia released inflation figures that came out higher than expected. Here's what that means in simple terms:
Higher inflation = Stronger Australian Dollar
When a country's prices are rising (inflation), it usually means their currency gets stronger. And that's exactly what happened today — the Australian Dollar jumped higher against most other currencies.
For Australian Athletes: Your money now buys more when you're overseas. Training camps in the US, equipment from Europe, or competition fees abroad just became cheaper.
For Australian Businesses: If you import goods from overseas, you just got a discount. The stronger Aussie Dollar means foreign suppliers' products cost you less in Australian Dollar terms.
The Simple Math: The Australian Dollar went from buying about 70 US cents to over 70.8 US cents today. That might sound small, but on large purchases, those fractions add up to real savings.
AUD/USD - Daily Chart
Major Currencies: This Week's Winners & Losers
🏆 This Week's Winner: Australian Dollar
The Aussie Dollar is kicking the biggest goals this week! Australia's inflation figures came out higher than expected this morning, which means the Australian Dollar now buys you more US Dollars, Pounds, and Euros than it did last week.
What this means: If you're an Australian buying something overseas, travelling abroad, or getting paid from international sources — your money goes further right now.
💪 Also Strong: New Zealand Dollar
The Kiwi Dollar is following its bigger neighbour higher. When Australia does well, New Zealand often benefits too.
📉 This Week's Strugglers:
Japanese Yen: Still weak against most currencies. If you're travelling to Japan, your money buys more yen than usual.
British Pound: Stuck in neutral — not moving much in either direction while the UK sorts out its economic direction.
US Dollar: Having a weak week against most currencies, which is actually good news if you're buying US goods or services.
The Simple Story: When a country's economy shows strength (like Australia's inflation data today), its currency usually gets stronger. That means your money has more buying power when dealing with other countries' currencies.
The Bottom Line: Timing matters in currency markets just like it does in sport. The difference between good timing and bad timing can be hundreds of thousands of dollars — just ask Chucky Lozano.
Professional FX services designed for international athletes and businesses. Because timing isn't just everything in sport — it's everything in currency markets too.
If you earn or move money internationally and want clarity before the market decides for you, you can book a short strategy call below.
👉 Book a Currency Strategy Call
For athletes, expats, property buyers, and global professionals.
Chris Broadfoot
Founder, SportsFX