A decade ago, a proposal from Dundee Football Club's American owners sent shockwaves through Scottish football. Tim Keyes and John Nelms revealed they were in talks to host a future Premiership match against Celtic in the United States.
The Bold Transatlantic Vision
For Dundee's Texan leadership, this was a visionary strategy to boost the global profile of the Scottish Premiership. They identified Boston and Philadelphia as potential host cities, aiming to tap into the large Irish diaspora communities that Celtic were also keen to engage. The club stated the proposal was in its early stages and would require SPFL board approval, but they firmly believed it represented a fantastic opportunity for Dundee, Celtic, and Scottish football as a whole.
While the SPFL board showed initial willingness to consider the plan, world governing body FIFA made it clear it would be the final arbiter, even if the Scottish and American federations approved. The idea was pencilled in for the 2016-17 season, but by January 2017, Dundee confirmed it had been shelved. The sheer volume of administrative hurdles, both domestically and internationally, had proven too problematic to overcome.
A European Trend Gathers Momentum
Despite the setback for Dundee, the concept of playing domestic league matches abroad has gained significant traction in European football. A Serie A fixture between AC Milan and Como is provisionally scheduled for February 8 at the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia.
UEFA, despite its opposition, reluctantly approved the move after finding no legal framework to阻止 it. President Aleksander Ceferin called the decision exceptional and warned it should not set a precedent, stating that league matches belong on home soil to avoid disenfranchising loyal fans.
In Spain, La Liga's attempt to stage a Villarreal vs. Barcelona match in Miami this December was met with fierce resistance. Players across the league staged a coordinated protest, refusing to move for the first 15 seconds of their matches. Facing this backlash, La Liga cancelled the plan, though president Javier Tebas remains determined to find a way to implement it in the future.
The Financial Driver and Scottish Prospects
The primary motivation for leagues like Serie A and La Liga is financial, as they seek to bridge the growing commercial gap with the English Premier League. They look enviously at American sports like the NFL and NBA, which have successfully hosted regular-season games abroad for years.
Dundee managing director John Nelms confirmed last year that the club may try again to test the waters for a Stateside game, citing the potential financial and promotional benefits. However, the appeal of a Dundee vs. Celtic match to American audiences remains questionable, especially when compared to the drawing power of an Old Firm fixture.
Scottish football's history with overseas experiments is mixed. A 1994 tournament in Canada featuring Celtic, Hearts, and Aberdeen attracted less than 6,000 fans for the final. While Celtic have drawn large crowds for pre-season friendlies against giants like Real Madrid, replicating that for a domestic league game is a different challenge entirely.
As European football continues to push the boundaries, the genie of overseas domestic matches is straining to get out of the bottle. The outcome of the AC Milan vs. Como game in Australia could well determine if there's any going back.
