Plans for a Serie A tournament held in the USA confused many earlier this year but now they’re a little more relevant following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.
Lega Serie A president Luigi De Sievro confirmed back in February that a friendly tournament was being planned for later this year, when the World Cup would going on in Qatar. The idea is that all 20 Serie A teams would send players not called up to the World Cup for the tournament, which would be hosted in the USA. The matches would be scheduled to avoid any overlaps with the World Cup.
The announcement of this plan was a little confusing at first, with many unsure how much viewership there would be for a friendly tournament which was occurring at the same time as football’s biggest cup. Now, however, things make a little more sense.
Many Italians are likely to feel a disconnection from the upcoming World Cup following Italy’s failure to qualify, so having a Serie A tournament gives these fans some football action to care about.
The Serie A tournament also allows American fans to view a number of games involving Serie A teams live, something which is sure to be appreciated by those in the States. It also has the chance to grow interest in the league, which could pay dividends considering the massive untapped market.
Unfortunately many of the ‘stars’ will be at the WC – but not the Italian ones obviously. This mini – league, if delivered well and played with enthusiasm could attract more viewers to Serie A. And viewers equals money. Serie A has to increase its footprint in other markets.