Tom Werner, the chairman of Liverpool Football Club, has reiterated his keen enthusiasm for hosting English Premier League matches in the United States, with a particular focus on New York City as a potential venue.
Werner’s ambitious plan envisions a comprehensive international strategy, where Premier League matches are regularly hosted in multiple cities around the world, including New York City, despite the initial opposition and criticism from some fans.
Back in 2008, then-Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore suggested an additional round of fixtures outside England, known as ‘Game 39.’ The proposal was heavily criticized by fans and ultimately scrapped.
Recently, the concept of playing domestic matches abroad has gained traction again. FIFA announced last month that it would reconsider its stance on ‘out-of-territory’ matches, sparking new discussions.
Werner, in an interview with the Financial Times, revealed his ambitious plans: “I’m determined one day to have a Premier League game be played in New York City. I even have the sort of crazy idea that there would be a day where we play one game in Tokyo, one game a few hours later in Los Angeles, one game a few hours later in Rio, one game a few hours later in Riyadh and make it a day where football, where the Premier League, is celebrated.”
He added that the plan would include affordable travel and accommodations for local fans, suggesting Liverpool supporters could travel to New York if the team played Nottingham Forest there.
However, Liverpool owner John Henry distanced himself from the idea, stating in the same interview that he does not support or have a particular interest in it.
The Liverpool FC Supporters Board, in a statement on X, clarified that Werner’s comments were his personal views and not something the club is currently considering. They emphasized that any such decision would require consultation with the Supporters’ Board, as per their agreement.
This isn’t the first time a top European league has considered overseas matches. Spain’s LaLiga attempted to stage a match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami in 2019, but the plan was abandoned due to insufficient support. Additionally, the Spanish federation (RFEF) has hosted the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in recent years.
However, Liverpool owner John Henry distanced himself from the idea, stating in the same interview that he does not support or have a particular interest in it.
The Liverpool FC Supporters Board issued a statement on [X] to clarify that Tom Werner’s comments about hosting Premier League games in New York City represent his personal opinion and not the club’s official stance. The Board emphasized that any such significant decision would necessitate thorough consultation with them.
The concept of hosting top-tier European league matches abroad is not new, as evidenced by LaLiga’s previous attempt to stage a Barcelona-Girona match in Miami in 2019, which ultimately failed due to lack of support. Moreover, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has successfully organized the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in recent years.
