LONDON — LaLiga is reviving its plans to host a regular-season match in the United States.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas announced on Thursday that he remains determined to hold a marquee Spanish match abroad, despite last year’s controversial attempt to schedule a game in Miami that ultimately fell through due to significant opposition from various stakeholders, including clubs, players, and fans.
“We will give it another shot. I’m uncertain about the timing, but we need to approach it appropriately,” said Tebas at a news conference in London.
– Learn more about the cancellation of LaLiga’s Barcelona-Villarreal match in Miami.
Barcelona and Villarreal were scheduled to compete at the Miami Dolphins‘ Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, marking a historic move for Spain as the first major European league to play a regular-season match internationally. However, those plans were scrapped in October amidst rising opposition, with critics arguing it compromised competitive fairness by relocating a game overseas.
“I don’t believe it will cause any harm,” Tebas asserted at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit. “We are talking about one match out of 380 in a season.”
Tebas aims to follow in the footsteps of the NFL, which hosted games in London, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid, and Sao Paulo last season. The NBA has also embraced international games.
Tebas expressed that top European leagues have thrived due to their global fan base, with broadcasting rights generating billions worldwide. He views hosting a game overseas as a sign of respect and an opportunity for promotion, akin to recent U.S. sports practices.
“We now celebrate Halloween, a tradition absent 20 years ago. We have NFL and NBA games,” Tebas noted. “In 50 years, will our stadiums be empty while those for the NBA and NFL are full? They host multiple games and aren’t just visiting Europe as tourists; they’re strategically engaging fans to secure television contracts and cultivate young talent,” he emphasized. “While we’ve opened the doors to Europe, we seem to be closing them to the U.S.”
The league had previously secured the backing of UEFA and the Spanish soccer federation in October to hold a game abroad. However, resistance emerged, including a player protest, and eventually, game promoter Relevent notified LaLiga about postponement due to inadequate time for proper event execution.
A similar attempt to play a Spanish league game in the U.S. in 2019 was thwarted when FIFA stressed that official league matches must occur within each member association’s territory, leading to Barcelona retracting its commitment.
Tebas also commented on the ongoing situation regarding Manchester City’s allegations of breaching the Premier League‘s financial regulations.
City has faced accusations of over 100 breaches since February 2023, yet after an independent commission reviewed the case from September to December 2024, a decision remains pending. City has consistently denied the allegations.
“This type of situation breeds uncertainty, which is damaging to the institution’s reputation,” stated Tebas.