ROME — Serie A is taking steps to become the pioneering European soccer league to hold a match in the United States, with nine of its 20 teams now under American ownership. Ezio Simonelli, the president of the Italian league, shared these ambitions during a recent event in New York.
In recent developments, FIFA has moved toward revising its long-standing policy that prohibits domestic league games from occurring in foreign countries. This change opens up new possibilities for leagues worldwide.
“To host a game abroad, we need authorization from the local league, so we’re exploring an agreement on that front. Our goal is to organize the first league match in the U.S.,” Simonelli explained in New York.
Since being appointed two months ago, Simonelli has been focused on expanding Serie A’s reach, recognizing the United States as a key market. “With American interests owning nine of our clubs and Canadian ownership as well, there’s significant potential here,” he said. “These owners also backed my election, for which I’m grateful. We also anticipate more investment interest from North America.”
The American-owned clubs in Serie A include Atalanta, Fiorentina, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Parma, Roma, Venezia, and Hellas Verona. Bologna’s ownership is Canadian, under Joey Saputo’s guidance.
Serie A has become home to several prominent American players, such as Christian Pulisic of AC Milan, and Juventus stars Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah.
The Italian league has experience in hosting high-profile matches abroad, including the Italian Super Cup, previously held in Saudi Arabia and other countries.
While the Spanish league has faced obstacles in hosting games in the U.S., Serie A is optimistic about its upcoming plans. Inter and Juventus are slated to participate in the Club World Cup in the U.S. later this year. This is part of the broader soccer calendar that sees the U.S., alongside Canada and Mexico, hosting the World Cup in 2026.
As Serie A watches these developments closely, its pursuit of international exposure continues to align with its strategic goal of expanding into new markets.
