The prospect of Premier League regular-season matches being held abroad isn’t in the cards for now – the league itself put these ideas to rest during a meeting in New York earlier this year.
Discussions have been circulating since 2009 when then-CEO Richard Scudamore and other Premier League executives broached the idea of adding a 39th game to be played internationally. This concept aimed to amplify the competition’s global appeal – an allure that has only intensified in recent years with the surge in popularity of English football in lucrative markets like the United States.
But any thoughts that the Premier League might emulate major US sports leagues like the NFL, MLB, and NBA by moving competitive fixtures to American soil were decisively quashed by Premier League chief football officer Tony Scholes.
“We don’t feel the need to come play in the US during the season proper, and you’ll understand the challenges that would present in the UK as well,” Scholes told Front Office Sports during an early February media briefing. “[Playing internationally] is not on our agenda, and no discussions are taking place.”
With a significant number of Premier League clubs heading to the US for pre-season in an attempt to capitalise on the growing interest leading up to next summer’s World Cup in North America, it’s likely that many top-flight clubs would relish the opportunity to explore new revenue streams that a competitive match in the US could offer.
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner expressed his wish last year to see a competitive match played in New York. However, his enthusiasm was somewhat dampened by Fenway Sports Group boss John W. Henry’s stance on the issue, with Henry stating that it isn’t something he is advocating for or interested in.
Yet, playing competitive matches overseas has been a key part of the growth strategy for two of the major US sports teams in their portfolio.
(Image: Joe Sargent, NHLI via Getty Images)
This week brought the news that the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team will be traveling to Stockholm, Sweden, in November this year to face off against the Nashville Predators at the Avicii Arena as part of the 2025 NHL Global Series. This presents an opportunity for the Penguins to showcase their brand in a market where the sport enjoys immense popularity and revenue potential.
It marks the first time in 20 years that the Penguins have ventured overseas for a global series. Meanwhile, in 2019, the FSG-owned Boston Red Sox participated in the MLB London Summer Series against their longtime rivals, the New York Yankees.
Major US sports leagues have been showcasing their events globally for several years, aiming to tap into new markets and audiences. The NFL, in particular, has committed to a decade-long partnership with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, hosting key events in the UK.
However, the Premier League has yet to follow suit, and recent statements from league officials suggest that such a move is not imminent. Nonetheless, La Liga’s eagerness to explore this avenue in an attempt to close the gap with the Premier League may prompt the Premier League to reconsider its stance.
Last year, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters mentioned that the door was “ajar” for hosting matches abroad, thanks to a settlement between FIFA and US-based match promoter Relevant Sports, which recently secured the global rights to sell UEFA Champions League broadcasting rights.
Although FSG’s ownership may hold differing views on hosting Premier League games in the US, the overall trend seems to be moving in a single direction. Having witnessed the positive financial impact of taking their teams on the road through their experiences with the Penguins and Red Sox, FSG is well aware of the potential benefits of globalizing their sporting events.
The potential earnings from such a venture for the Premier League are yet to be determined, but the League is taking its Summer Series to Chicago, Philadelphia, and New Jersey this summer in an effort to expand its brand, promising a profitable venture for all parties involved.
American football fans crave the chance to witness the crème de la crème, which is undoubtedly the Premier League, but they also desire high-stakes matches where results hold significance, and that’s perfectly reasonable. To truly tap into its growth potential, the Premier League may need to adapt and explore this avenue in due course.
For clubs like Liverpool, boasting a robust US fan base, American ownership, and numerous US commercial partners, it could prove to be a profitable move. It seems more a question of when rather than if, although it might not be as imminent as where Spanish football’s top tier currently stands.
