SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: A general view of a Premier League match ball during the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Chelsea FC at Bramall Lane on April 07, 2024 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images) (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
The Premier League may yet end up playing competitive games in the United States, but its leadership dismissed the idea that such a move is already in the works.
Speaking at a press conference in London after a meeting of the Association of European Professional Football Leagues, Premier League CEO Richard Masters said that the English top flight hasn’t formulated a plan to play an official fixture anywhere other than in the United Kingdom.
“It’s not part of our current plans, it really isn’t,” Masters said on Friday.
The topic is an active one, especially after event promoter Relevent Sports brought a lawsuit pushing to hold official league matches from abroad in the United States.
FIFA’s recent agreement with Relevent to remove the world governing body from the suit has brought a new degree of uncertainty to the situation.
“No one quite knows exactly what is happening,” acknowledged Masters. “But, the door looks ajar potentially in America, at any rate, for matches abroad.”
Association of European Professional Football Leagues director Jacco Swart refused to rule the idea out, but like Masters insisted that the concept wasn’t one where the leagues have a firm plan in place.
“I’m not saying never but currently it’s not a point on our agenda,” said Swart.
La Liga ready to bring league matches to U.S.
While the Premier League may not quite be ready to make the leap, La Liga — whose attempt to hold a match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami back in 2019 is where the Relevent suit began — intends to make it happen as soon as the 2025-26 season.
“I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas told Spanish newspaper Expansion on Wednesday.
“An official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second market for La Liga after Spain.”
While La Liga was stymied in its first attempt to bring fixtures to the U.S., the Spanish Super Cup has been held in Saudi Arabia in four of the last five years.
This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: Premier League CEO says league fixtures in U.S. ‘not part of our current plans’
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