USA
Will the USA be the new soccer ‘Mecca’ following FIFA/Relevent agreement?
FIFA and the US sports promotion company have reached an agreement that could allow domestic competition matches to be held on foreign soil.
Relevent Sports and FIFA reached a settlement on Monday after the US based sports promotions group controlled by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross claimed that the world’s governing body had: “closed the doors of the United States to international soccer” after FIFA originally claimed that “official league matches must be played within territory of the respective member association.”
‘FIFA and Relevent have agreed to resolve this matter pending FIFA’s consideration of changes to existing FIFA policies with respect to playing official season games outside of a league’s home territory,’ FIFA said in a statement adding ‘FIFA has not admitted any liability and continues to deny the legal claims alleged in Relevent’s complaint.’
The world’s governing body will now consider changing a longstanding policy that prevents national league matches from being held in another country as part of a settlement with the Relevent Sports agency, which has been pushing to bring games from major European competitions to the US with a failed bid to stage a Girona-FC Barcelona game in 2018 being blocked for this reason.
The agreement between the company and FIFA could lead to the possibility that teams from leagues around the world can develop domestic competition matches abroad. “As FIFA considers changes to its existing rules on whether matches can be played outside a league’s home territory, Relevent Sports looks forward to supporting FIFA as both parties work to grow the game,” comments the US-based sporting events promoter.
Historic agreement
The agreement between two of the three parties involved in the dispute (US Soccer and Relevent are still in a legal battle regarding the matter) could provide a historic framework for international football with LaLiga originally looking to stage games in the United States with the FC Barcelona and Girona game being proposed for Miami: “The sporting principle of official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association”, was FIFA’s position at the time and this caused Revelent to seek legal matters.
According to The Athletic, the North American federation (US Soccer) still has the power to approve or deny all matches within its territory.
Possible ‘Mecca’ of football
The measure opens the door to domestic soccer games possibly being played on US soil with the American market proving a lucrative base for some years. Major European leagues and clubs have for a number of years been trying to expand their reach with the likes of preseason tours such as the Premier League Summer Series last summer, which proved to be a success for the six teams involved. Summer 2024 sees the UEFA organised Summer Champions Tour which will feature the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea as guests.
Ahead of hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the United States will also stage this summer’s Copa América and the first ever 2025 Club World Cup featuring 32 teams.
Executive director of Relevent Sports, Daniel Sillman, now anticipates that LaLiga matches will be played in the States ahead of the staging of the 2026 World Cup.