Plans are underway for six Premier League clubs to compete in a new preseason tournament across various cities in the United States. The tournament is expected to begin at the end of July and will give US fans the chance to witness Premier League action live.
According, the Athletic, the upcoming tournament is seen as an exciting opportunity to build on the growing interest in the Premier League in the United States. The North American country had previously planned to host an "enhanced" preseason tournament last year, aimed at setting up more meaningful matches between Premier League teams. However, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the tournament's cancellation. Nevertheless, this year's Summer Series is expected to draw similarities with the Premier League's Asia Trophy.
At moment, Chelsea have been confirmed as one of the teams participating in the tournament. They will be joined by Newcastle, Aston Villa, Brentford, and Brighton and Hove Albion, all of whom had impressive performances in the ongoing Premier League season. According to reports, Leeds United is in line to be named as the sixth team. However, the participation of the Peacocks is still contingent on them avoiding relegation to the Championship.
The inspiration for the tournament is said to have been drawn from the successful NFL games held in London and NBA fixtures played in Paris. The inclusion of Chelsea, now owned by American Todd Boehly, is expected to the excitement for tournament organizers as there is already a significant west London club following in North America. In addition, the competition is expected to provide a substantial revenue growth opportunity for the Premier League while also giving a considerable boost in interest from a US audience as the country prepares to host the 2026 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Manchester United has already confirmed their tour of the US for the first time in five years. They will face Borussia Dortmund and Wrexham in their warm-up matches. Arsenal is also heading to the US this summer and will play an MLS All-Stars team led by United great Wayne Rooney in Washington D.C. in July.
