President of the Spanish La liga Santander, Javier Tebas, has revealed that the Spanish top flight could host games abroad possibly in the 2025/26 season.
In an interview with Spanish newspaper Expansion, the Spanish lawyer hinted that plans are in motion to host games overseas with the rationale being solidifying their stance in the North American market.
“ I don’t know when, but this time La Liga will play official matches abroad. I think it could be in the 2025-26 season. The official match in the US will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second for La Liga after Spain”
Tebas also attested to the fact that other leagues are building up, hence La liga must figure new things out to maintain their status among the elite.
“Other very competitive leagues are coming so we can’t always do the same thing, they would overtake us.”
Previously, Spanish clubs had expressed interest in conducting matches abroad, with Barcelona suggesting a Catalonian derby against Girona to take place in Miami in 2018. However, FIFA and US Soccer prohibited the match, leading to a legal dispute initiated by Relevant Sports against both entities. As a result of the ensuing litigation, the probability of foreign leagues organizing matches overseas has risen.
Nonetheless, other sports fans have also likened La liga’s initiative as elevating the league’s profile, as the next World Cup will commence that same season in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
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Story by :Gabriel Tecco Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
