Photo Credit: james Kirkup

As the Premier league kicks off for the 34th season looking for its next champion. a new geographical question has been brought to light with the game becoming more and more international. Will the premier league be the next league to move abroad?

This will be following the recent trend set by the Serie A & La Liga (who are both looking to play in australia and the U.S. Respectively). The motivation is clear, to grow the fanbase, expand commercial opportunities, and tap into the booming overseas appetite for elite European football.

European football has transformed from a regional sport into a global entertainment product. The Premier League, more than any other competition, has lead the shift. broadcasting to over 200 countries worldwide. clubs now jet off to countries all over the world for their pre-season tours and there can be seen to be now large International following for many premier league clubs.

This globalisation is Not just unique to football but has been happening to sport as a Whole with the NFL being played internationally more and more each season and boxing events being taken place everywhere. From other sports commercially taking the sports abroad has worked very successfully, With the nFL adding it’s most ever international fixtures this season.

The case for moving games abroad can be seen to be very strong from a business standpoint. with large potential for Revenue growth and brand Development due to the strong fan demand.

but the premier league has such strong british identity will the fans take it lightly it moving the sport Abroad.

The key question is, who are these games really for? Domestic fans argue that moving fixtures abroad would betray the culture of English football, pointing out that they already travel up and down the country, spending thousands each season, and should not have a “home” game taken away from them. Overseas fans, however, counter that they are just as much a part of the Premier League’s success, contributing through TV subscriptions, merchandise, and sold-out preseason tours, and therefore deserve the chance to experience the league firsthand. Players and managers tend to take a middle ground, recognising the commercial appeal of overseas fixtures but voicing concerns about congested schedules, long-haul travel, fatigue, and the risk to competitive integrity.

so what Could really happen?

If full Premier League fixtures abroad still seems too radical, there are softer, more gradual steps that could pave the way. One option is staging the Community Shield overseas, Another possibility is experimenting with cup fixtures, such as Carabao Cup ties.

the Pre-season has already become the clearest window into what a globalised Premier League might look like. with Every summer, the league’s biggest clubs head abroad for lucrative tours, with the U.S., Asia, and the Middle East among the most popular destinations. These games are technically friendlies, but they carry the spectacle of competitive fixtures, the strongest solution to the globalisation of the premier league which Doesn’t intake as much Disruption would be creating a high value to these pre-season tournaments to make it competitive which gives the potential for the english teams to be shown around the world.