NEW YORK CITY – Event promoter Relevent Sports has made the decision to drop FIFA as a defendant in its antitrust lawsuit against FIFA and the U.S. Soccer Federation. The resolution was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Monday. However, it is important to note that U.S. Soccer remains a defendant in the ongoing case, which has the potential to be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The lawsuit centers around the possibility of allowing club teams from around the world to play official league games outside of their home territories. Currently, this arrangement is prohibited by FIFA statute. Relevent Sports stated in a statement to The Athletic that the agreement was reached while FIFA is considering changes to its existing rules on playing games outside of a league’s home territory. Both Relevent Sports and FIFA released similarly-worded statements, with FIFA emphasizing that it has not admitted any liability and denies the legal claims alleged by Relevent.
This development is significant for FIFA, as it signals a shift in its stance on domestic fixtures being played outside of a team’s home nation. Previously, FIFA had joined U.S. Soccer as a co-defendant in the case. U.S. Soccer has been accused of hindering Relevent’s business growth as a promoter, while FIFA has been criticized for having a conflict of interest. The legal battle intensified when a United States District Judge ordered “fact discovery” relating to the case to be completed by the end of September 2024.
While the details of FIFA’s settlement with Relevent Sports have not been disclosed, Relevent has left the possibility of re-launching the legal case open by requesting the court to dismiss the claims between the parties “without prejudice.” The outcome of this case could potentially pave the way for teams to play official league matches outside of their home territories, leading to the prospect of global teams staging games in the United States.
FIFA has already made attempts to bring major club football matches to the United States, including the upcoming men’s Club World Cup tournament in 2025. However, this tournament represents a new format of an already global event, rather than domestic league matches. Commercial opportunities in the United States have attracted top European leagues for summer preseason tours, with the Premier League and other teams playing sold-out matches in NFL stadiums. With the World Cup scheduled to be held in the United States in 2026, the potential for further growth in commercial opportunities is high.
While the settlement between FIFA and Relevent Sports suggests a clearing of the path for changes to FIFA policy, leagues may face resistance from fans and other stakeholders regarding the relocation of games outside of their home nations. In 2018, when La Liga and Relevent announced games would be played in the U.S., the Spanish Footballers Association openly opposed the decision. Nonetheless, Relevent Sports’ CEO has stated that official La Liga games will be played on North American soil before the 2026 World Cup.
The agreement between Relevent Sports and FIFA is a significant development in the legal battle for playing league games outside of a team’s home territory. While the implications of this resolution remain to be seen, it highlights the potential for changes in FIFA policy and the increasing commercial opportunities for global football in the United States.