FIFA considers allowing league games in foreign countries

On Wednesday, FIFA took steps toward potentially ending a long-standing tradition in football by reconsidering the rules that prevent domestic league games from being played in other countries.

Fans may disapprove of the idea of their teams’ home matches being relocated thousands of kilometers away.

The United States and Saudi Arabia are seen as likely hosts for these competitive games from top European leagues. Recently, FIFA decided to withdraw from a court case in New York filed by promoter Relevent, which challenged the existing policy.

This new policy could appeal to the increasing number of international owners of European clubs, including numerous U.S. investors in the English Premier League, Italy’s Serie A, and France’s Ligue 1, as well as state-backed teams like Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City, Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain, and Saudi-owned Newcastle.

FIFA is now forming a panel of 10-15 representatives from football stakeholders to advise on revising the rules concerning “out-of-territory” games. These rules were last updated in 2014.

Since then, attempts to hold European league games abroad, such as bringing Barcelona to Miami in 2019, have been blocked. U.S. promoters are seeking to offer fans more than just preseason exhibition matches featuring the world’s top clubs.

FIFA has instructed this yet-to-be-appointed working group to ensure fairness and provide “advance notice to fans who may miss the opportunity to attend a home or away match in the home territory.”

Other considerations for the FIFA panel include “respect for the recognized structure of international football” and the potential impact on fans, teams, and leagues in the host country of these “out-of-territory” games.