Franchising: Is The North American Model About to Be Duplicated in European Soccer?

Abstract

In 2021 and 2023, the attempt by a handful of powerful soccer clubs to create a European Super League gave rise to heated debate about importing the North American franchising model into European professional sports. The governance of professional soccer in Europe, in the hands of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), is effectively based on the principle of recognition of sporting merit: the best teams win the trophies, the worst teams are relegated to a minor league. In contrast, the governance of the four major leagues in North America is based on keeping franchised teams in a major league regardless of their sporting results. To maintain fan interest, mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that a team ranked poorly in season S has a chance to shine in season S+1, thanks to the addition of some excellent players. The franchising model reduces economic uncertainty, and consequently attracts many investors; this is why the owners of powerful soccer teams in Europe have been tempted to implement it. This research note addresses this issue, pointing out the hindrances to implementing this model in Europe, notably for cultural reasons.