European soccer leagues say they have no plans for U.S. games, but lawsuit could change that

GENEVA (AP) — Leaders of Europe’s top soccer leagues say they have no plans to move matches to the United States, although they acknowledge that could change pending the outcome of a Manhattan court case.

FIFA reversed its long-standing policy of blocking domestic leagues played on the territory of another member association, withdrawing this month from an antitrust lawsuit filed by U.S. promoter Relevent Sports. The lawsuit also targets the U.S. Soccer Federation.

If league games could be organised abroad, European leagues and clubs – particularly in England and Spain – could count on offers from the United States, Saudi Arabia and other countries.

“It’s not part of our current plans, it really isn’t,” Premier League chief executive Richard Masters told a news conference on Friday after a meeting of the 34-league group of European clubs in London.

Still, Masters said the uncertainty surrounding the court case means “nobody really knows what’s going on, but the door in America seems potentially ajar, at least for matches played overseas.”

European Leagues managing director Jacco Swart said moving the competition abroad was “definitely not yet on the cards” for the group.

“I’m not saying never, but it’s not on our priority list right now,” said Swart, a former Dutch league executive who noted that American sports leagues regularly schedule games in London and other European cities.

FIFA blocked Spain’s La Liga plan from 2018 to have a match between Barcelona, ​​then starring Lionel Messi, and Girona, then played in Miami, where Messi currently plays.

FIFA’s policies are no longer as clear, with Masters lamenting the poor relationship between European leagues and the Zurich-based organisation.

Masters said there had been no “meaningful dialogue” with FIFA, while UEFA had given the league group a seat on its decision-making executive committee.

“There is a huge gulf in the way the leagues are consulted between UEFA and FIFA, which is non-existent,” a Premier League official said.

The first month-long FIFA Club World Cup begins next June, with 12 European clubs out of 32 teams playing in the United States. Real Madrid and Manchester City have qualified, but America’s Manchester United and Barcelona have not.

Tens of millions of dollars in prize money paid out by FIFA risk further widening the wealth gap among European clubs and mean teams that reach the final will have to play up to seven extra matches.

The 2024-25 season will add more congestion to the calendar, with the Champions League and Europe’s second tier expanding with four more teams to bring the total to 36, playing eight games instead of six before the knockout round. Those games block two new midweek slots in January.

Swart said the pressure on the players and the football calendar came from international competitions, not domestic ones.

“It’s getting to a critical point,” Masters said, warning about the “ability of players to perform at their best in the competitions they want to play in.”

The Premier League’s format of 20 teams, from August to May, has remained the same since 1995. Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A also have 20 teams, each playing 38 matches. Germany’s Bundesliga has 18 teams.

“What has changed over the last few decades,” Masters said, “is really the march of international and regional soccer competitions.”

The European Leagues groups are seeking a formal working agreement with FIFA and on Friday called for a “more transparent, objective and non-discriminatory set of rules governing professional football”.

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AP Soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Graham Dunbar, Associated Press