With World Cup soccer coming to Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Senate unanimously approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Joe Picozzi (R-Philadelphia) enabling international team doctors to treat their players in the commonwealth.
Philadelphia will host the FIFA Club World Cup this summer and the FIFA World Cup in 2026. In those 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.
“The City of Brotherly Love will be showcased to millions of dedicated fans and dozens of teams from six continents,” said Picozzi, who represents Northeast Philadelphia in the Senate. “We don’t want to let needless red tape negatively impact the matches or prevent future events from being staged here.”
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.
“I appreciate my colleagues for acting on this incredible opportunity to ensure that all soccer fans, athletes and team staff – including team doctors – have a world-class experience in our beautiful commonwealth,” Picozzi said.
This is the first bill that Picozzi authored that’s passed the Senate. Picozzi unseated incumbent Democrat Sen. Jimmy Dillon in November. At 29, he’s the youngest member of the state Senate, and the first Republican to serve the district since 1996.
Picozzi grew up in Somerton and is an Eagle Scout who Councilman Brian O’Neill appointed to serve on the Philadelphia Youth Commission. He has worked for the Manhattan Institute, a think tank. After graduating from Holy Ghost prep, he studied government at Georgetown University and worked for the U.S. House of Representatives in public policy.
Picozzi played soccer as a child and is a big fan of all Philadelphia sports teams, including the Union.
In 2026, the nation’s eyes will be focused on Philadelphia, and the World Cup games that Philadelphia will host are a major component of that. The commonwealth already allows sports team doctors who come from out of state to treat their respective players. This bill will provide that same courtesy to doctors for international teams.
The bill now moves to the House of Representatives for consideration.