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Fifa and US sports promoter Relevent have reached an agreement to end their legal fight over a ban on big European football leagues and clubs playing official matches in the US.
Relevent and the world’s football governing body told the Manhattan federal court on Monday that they expect the agreement “will resolve the claims between them” in the litigation.
There is no guarantee that the resolution will result in European league games taking place in the US. But Relevent said in a statement to the Financial Times that Fifa was considering “changes to its existing rules about whether games can be played outside of a league’s home territory”.
The agency and match promoter, which is owned by billionaire Stephen Ross, had initially sued the US Soccer Federation, the national governing body, accusing it of conspiring to block foreign leagues from playing official season matches in the country.
The lawsuit came in response to Relevent’s efforts in 2018 to organise a fixture in Miami between Spanish La Liga teams Barcelona and Girona. It also attempted to organise an Ecuadorean league match.
However, the football governing body’s Council decided that “official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association”. Relevent later broadened the lawsuit to add Fifa as a defendant.
Fifa said that it had reached the agreement with Relevent, “pending . . . consideration of changes to existing Fifa policies with respect to playing official season games outside of a league’s home territory”.
The football governing body told the FT that it “has not admitted any liability and continues to deny the legal claims alleged in Relevent’s complaint”. The agreement did not include US Soccer, and Relevent’s case against it would continue, according to Monday’s filing. US Soccer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
European football leagues and clubs are increasingly targeting US fans and consumers ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the US. Top clubs regularly hold friendlies and exhibitions in the US but are unable to play official season matches in the country.
US investors, meanwhile, have poured capital into European football clubs. English Premier League clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have American backers, while La Liga rivals Atlético de Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid have financial ties to American investment firms.
Demand in the US for elite football has been underlined by Argentine World Cup winner Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami, in a move that has driven up interest in Major League Soccer.
However, European leagues seeking to move in-season fixtures to the US could also face opposition from fans in their home countries.
“Bringing official matches from Europe to the US is an exciting proposition but it must be done thoughtfully and collaboratively,” Relevent chief executive Daniel Sillman said in a statement. “We look forward to partnering with Fifa to support the global growth of the game and the best leagues in the world.”
The company has emerged as a crucial ally to European competition organisers as they expand their international reach and revenues.
The sports agency has brokered billions of dollars in media rights deals for Uefa, which organises the elite Champions League, and La Liga. It also worked on the Premier League’s “Summer Series” pre-season friendlies last year.
Relevent and Fifa have asked the court to dismiss the claims between them “without prejudice”, meaning the sports agency could go back to court over the matter.
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