LaLiga Prepares Fresh Push to Stage Regular Season Game in United States

Spanish football's top division is gearing up for another attempt to bring LaLiga action to the United States. League president Javier Tebas revealed Thursday that organizing a regular-season fixture on American turf remains a priority for the organization.

During his appearance at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, Tebas emphasized his determination to see the plan through. "We are going to try again. I'm not sure when. We have to bring it up at the right time," the league chief stated.

LaLiga has attempted this venture previously. In 2023, Barcelona and Villarreal were scheduled to meet at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, a match that would have marked a historic milestone as the first major European league fixture contested overseas during a regular campaign.

However, the initiative fell apart in October following significant resistance from clubs, players, and supporters. Critics questioned the fairness of relocating matches internationally, noting the competitive imbalance created when certain teams must undertake transoceanic journeys while opponents play domestic fixtures.

Tebas Makes His Case for International Expansion

The LaLiga president remains unconvinced by the criticism. "I don't think it will cause damage," Tebas maintained. "We are talking about one match out of 380 in a season."

He points to the NFL and NBA as successful examples. These North American professional leagues have staged regular contests in London, Berlin, Madrid, and additional international markets for years. Tebas believes European football should reciprocate this global approach.

"We celebrate Halloween, which we never celebrated 20 years ago. We have NFL games. We have NBA games," Tebas noted. His worry? That in five decades, European venues could sit empty while American sports pack stadiums across the continent.

According to Tebas, American leagues aren't visiting Europe casually. They're cultivating supporters, negotiating broadcast agreements, and attracting younger demographics. "We opened the doors to Europe. Instead, the United States, which opens the doors for us to go, we close them here in Europe," he remarked.

Previous Roadblocks

LaLiga made considerable progress with last year's proposal. In October, both UEFA and Spain's football federation greenlit the Miami fixture. However, player objections intensified, and promoter Relevent ultimately cancelled the event, citing insufficient preparation time.

The 2023 attempt wasn't LaLiga's inaugural effort. In 2019, another U.S.-based match was organized until FIFA intervened. FIFA's ruling council stressed that "official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association." Barcelona subsequently abandoned the arrangement.

For those following LaLiga betting markets, potential U.S. fixtures could significantly influence wagering odds. Clubs travelling across the Atlantic would confront substantial jet lag and schedule disruption. This could affect performance in matches surrounding the American trip, presenting intriguing betting opportunities on those contests.

Tebas also used the platform to address the Manchester City financial proceedings. City is facing more than 100 charges for purportedly violating Premier League regulations, with no decision announced despite hearings concluding in December 2024. "When you have this type of situation, you're generating uncertainty and that's damaging for an institution's image," Tebas commented.