Leaders of top European soccer leagues have stated that they currently have no intentions of taking games to the United States, despite the possibility of changes pending a lawsuit in Manhattan. FIFA recently altered its long-standing policy of prohibiting domestic league games from being played on the territory of another member federation by withdrawing from an antitrust suit filed by U.S. promoter Relevent Sports, which also involves the U.S. Soccer Federation.
If league games were to be organized abroad, European leagues and clubs, particularly those in England and Spain, could potentially receive offers from countries such as the United States and Saudi Arabia.
English Premier League CEO mentioned that while it is not part of their current plans, the uncertainty surrounding the court case has opened up the possibility of matches being played in America. European Leagues managing director also confirmed that taking games abroad is not currently on their agenda.
In the past, FIFA had blocked a 2018 plan by Spain's La Liga to hold a game in Miami, which involved Barcelona and Girona. However, the FIFA policy on this matter is now less clear, and there seems to be a lack of meaningful dialogue between Europe's leagues and the Zurich-based organization.
The introduction of FIFA's first month-long Club World Cup in June next year, with 12 European clubs participating in the United States, has raised concerns about the potential impact on player workload and wealth gaps among European clubs. The expansion of the Champions League and Europa League in the 2024-25 season is also expected to add more congestion to the calendar.
The European Leagues group is advocating for a formal working agreement with FIFA and has called for more transparent and non-discriminatory regulations to govern professional football.
Overall, the landscape of international and regional football competitions has evolved significantly over the years, posing challenges for players and leagues alike.
