Key facts
- Fifa's World Cup in North America saw 6.8 million attendees and generated $3 billion in sales.
- Leagues like Spain's LaLiga and Italy's Serie A have previously attempted to schedule overseas games.
- Fifa settled an antitrust case in 2023, leading to the formation of a working group on overseas games.
- Potential recommendations include allowing leagues a maximum of one overseas game per season.
- The Premier League and Bundesliga are less likely to pursue overseas games due to existing market strength and fan opposition.
The recent FIFA World Cup in North America, which set new attendance and revenue records, has intensified pressure on the sport's governing body to permit domestic leagues to stage matches in overseas locations. European leagues, particularly Spain's LaLiga and Italy's Serie A, have expressed a strong desire to play games abroad to promote their brands and increase media revenues.
Despite FIFA's historical opposition, its stance has softened following a 2023 antitrust settlement with marketing agency Relevent, which led to the formation of a working group to explore the conditions under which overseas games might be allowed. While this group has yet to release its recommendations, discussions have reportedly included limiting leagues to a maximum of one overseas game per season and capping the number of visiting fixtures in countries like the US.
Sports lawyer Adam Dale suggests that FIFA's opposition may not hold indefinitely, citing the success of the World Cup as evidence of American fans' appetite for top-tier football. He notes that leagues like the NBA, NFL, and MLB already play internationally, and European leagues may follow suit. However, leagues such as the Premier League, having previously encountered significant backlash over a similar proposal (the '39th game'), and Germany's Bundesliga, facing strong fan resistance, are less likely to pursue such initiatives.
Ultimately, the decision rests with FIFA, but the growing demand and the precedent set by the World Cup suggest that a shift in policy is increasingly probable, despite potential legal and public relations challenges for the governing body if it were to reverse course.