The Premier League will creep 'a step closer to holding meaningful games abroad with plans to hold a pre-season tournament in the United States next year'.
They have been impressed by the success the NFL have enjoyed in hosting regular season games in the UK and see opportunities for revenue growth across the Atlantic.
According to the Athletic, plans are being put in place for a round-robin pre-season competition in US next July and there are hopes it will involve at least one club from the 'big six'.
There's also plenty of interest from the US and a strong belief that matches will sell out and help build interest in the sport ahead of their hosting duties at the 2026 World Cup.
The Athletic report that 14 of the current Premier League teams are interested in taking part and matches will be played on both coasts.
There's already the Premier League Asia Trophy and the US version will be seen as an enhanced version.
The Premier League Asia Trophy has been in place since 2019 and seen Thailand, Hong Kong, China and Singapore hold games.
Interest from sponsors and broadcasters is expected to be ratcheted up to another level in the US and the multiple American owners of Premier League sides mean it is hardly a surprising move.
While Premier League clubs can clearly see the marketing appeal of having pre-season games abroad, it remains a step away from competitive football.
Given home advantage in the Premier League is hugely important, clubs may take some persuading to hold a meaningful fixture overseas.
Todd Boehly, the new majority Chelsea owner, has been among the most vocal in suggesting new ideas.
He talked up the prospect of and All-star Premier League game pitting the north against the south.
In a wide-ranging interview at the SALT conference in New York last month, the 48-year-old said: ‘I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports and really starts to figure out, “Why wouldn’t we do a tournament with the bottom four teams? Why isn’t there an All-Star game?”'
‘You could do a North vs South All-Star game in the Premier League and fund whatever the pyramid needed very easily. Everyone likes the idea of more revenue for the League.’
American sports such as the NFL and NBA host an annual All-Star game in which a number of the best players from across the league take part in an exhibition style contest.
There was some backlash at Boehly, with some fans claiming the American model does not measure up and translate to football, with others concerned about where extra games would fit in an already congested calendar.
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