Game has gone.
La Liga boss Javier Tebas has confirmed the Spanish top flight will play league games abroad, starting in the USA.
It’s been a long-term ambition for Tebas and the league, who previously had an attempt back in 2018 blocked by FIFA and the US Soccer Federation.
However, with Barcelona and Real Madrid touring the USA in the summer, and also playing a rare El Clasico friendly, plans are in place to hopefully hold a competitive fixture there within the next couple of years.
“I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad,” Tebas told Expansion.
“An official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second market for La Liga after Spain.”
Will anyone else follow suit?
Tebas stated that La Liga were not the only league considering the idea while also refusing to confirm how many domestic games each side would play overseas.
He stressed, however, that they wanted to uphold the Spanish top flight’s best reputation as one of the best leagues in the world given the Premier League’s financial power and the growing Saudi Pro League.
“Other very competitive leagues are coming so we cannot always do the same thing, but we cannot allow them to overtake us,” he added.
Currently the Supercopa – Spain’s version of the Community Shield – has been held in Saudi Arabia in four of the past five seasons.
Additionally, Tebas confirmed that LaLiga would not be introducing goal-line technology despite the recent controversy that saw Lamine Yamal’s goal disallowed in El Clasico, despite replays showing the ball was over the line.
Related links:
- Jim Ratcliffe prepares to axe almost half of Man United squad this summer
- Xavi calls El Clasico referee ‘a disgrace’ after last minute defeat
- Fans blast decision to scrap FA Cup replays and agree it’s ‘unfair on smaller teams’
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