HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-5) enabling World Cup team doctors to treat their players in Pennsylvania is set to be enacted into law after unanimous approval in the House of Representatives.
Philadelphia will host the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and the FIFA World Cup in 2026. In these contests, athletes will be supported by their traveling team doctors. Under current law, each international doctor would be required to obtain a medical license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine to treat players, even for just a single match.
“I’m grateful to my fellow lawmakers for acting so swiftly to eliminate this needless red tape, ensuring that the matches go on as planned and preventing any roadblock to future events from being staged here,” Picozzi said.
Senate Bill 184 would exempt international team doctors from needing to obtain a Pennsylvania medical license to care for their athletes. Much like how the law treats team physicians licensed in other states, international doctors would be limited to treatment of just their players and would be prohibited from practicing in all health care facilities in the Commonwealth.
“These games will bring worldwide attention to Pennsylvania’s largest and most historic city, my hometown of Philadelphia,” Picozzi said.
CONTACT: Sonny Mazzone