FIFA’s Proposal Restricts Overseas Matches for Domestic Leagues
FIFA’s recent proposal aims to impose stricter regulations on the approval of “international matches,” allowing domestic leagues to host only one match per season in foreign countries. This controversial move seeks to elevate standards across the board.
The new guidelines, developed by a FIFA working group over the past two years, are designed to tackle divisive issues and introduce stricter requirements for overseas matches. Under the updated framework, each league will be permitted to relocate one top-tier match while the host country can facilitate up to five matches from various leagues during the season.
This season, both La Liga and Serie A planned league matches in Miami and Perth, respectively, which sparked political controversy involving FIFA and UEFA. Local authorities canceled matches between Villarreal and Barcelona and Milan and Como due to opposition. The situation has also led to significant backlash against La Liga’s U.S. promoter, Relevent Sports, complicating an already contentious environment.
According to the new procedures, any request to move a competitive match abroad will require the agreement of all key stakeholders, including FIFA’s veto authority. The proposal mandates that requests must garner approval from the club’s national association, its confederation, the hosting country’s football association, and its federation before reaching FIFA.
Under this framework, domestic leagues will not be consulted if clubs pursue overseas matches against their wishes. The English FA is unlikely to approve such moves against the Premier League’s stance. However, this arrangement may not be universally applicable, potentially breeding tension between leagues and clubs in different countries.
FIFA sources indicated that any concerns regarding player welfare, particularly in terms of excessive travel and workload, could lead the governing body to block requests for overseas matches. In addition, proposals include measures to ensure that revenue from these domestic games will be redistributed across the sport, along with requirements to demonstrate that the local league will not suffer negative impacts.
FIFA’s existing regulations, enacted in 2014, restrict the ability to block “international matches” only if procedural requirements are not met. Although a date for the working group’s next meeting remains unconfirmed, FIFA aims to have these protocols implemented for the upcoming season. Despite anticipated stricter regulations, the debate surrounding international matches is expected to continue, fueled by last year’s backlash following La Liga and Serie A’s initial attempts to relocate matches.
UEFA reluctantly approved the overseas matches, citing a lack of clarity within FIFA’s framework. While FIFA considered an outright ban on international matches, legal advice deterred them from pursuing that course of action. Protecting Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer’s interests is a key factor in FIFA’s reasoning, as American markets are seen as lucrative opportunities for clubs if such matches are permitted.
The provision for a hosting country to hold up to five international matches per season has raised concerns that European and South American clubs may flock to the U.S., eager to capitalize on North American ticket sales. A nearly identical set of protocols is also being drafted to address international competitions between clubs and national teams across different continents, although it remains uncertain whether changes to the FIFA Club World Cup will require adherence to these guidelines.
Moreover, under the new rules for international competitions, domestic leagues will not be consulted, meaning that competitions like the Premier League could find themselves excluded from participating. FIFA has faced this issue for some time, previously entangled in legal disputes with Relevent after the latter filed an antitrust lawsuit against U.S. Soccer in 2019. This came after La Liga’s 2018 request for Barcelona to play Girona in Miami was denied; FIFA was named a co-defendant in the lawsuit.
Relevent dropped the lawsuit in 2024 and was subsequently appointed to the FIFA working group, which also includes representatives from multiple federations, European soccer clubs, and the World League. Since then, Relevent’s relationships with soccer authorities and clubs have improved, culminating in a deal for Relevent Football Partners to manage UEFA’s commercial and broadcast rights for leading European clubs.
FIFA has yet to comment on the developments, stating that the situation is still evolving. As these discussions progress, the complexities surrounding international matches and the differing interests of stakeholders will undoubtedly keep this issue at the forefront of global football news.
