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 regular-season action to the United States. LaLiga president Javier Tebas confirmed Thursday that staging a competitive match on American soil remains a priority for the league.

During his appearance at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, Tebas expressed his determination to make it happen. "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.

This wouldn't be LaLiga's inaugural attempt at crossing the Atlantic. In 2023, a showdown between Barcelona and Villarreal was scheduled for December 20 at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Had it proceeded, the fixture would have marked a historic milestone as the first major European league match contested overseas during regular season play.

However, the initiative crumbled in October following significant resistance from clubs, players, and supporters. Critics argued the concept created competitive imbalances, forcing certain teams to undertake transcontinental travel while their opponents enjoyed home comforts.

Tebas Makes His Case for International Expansion

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

He points to North American sports leagues as successful examples. The NFL and NBA have been staging games across London, Berlin, Madrid, and various international markets for years. Tebas believes European football should embrace reciprocal expansion.

"We celebrate Halloween, which we never celebrated 20 years ago. We have NFL games. We have NBA games," Tebas observed. His worry? That in five decades, European venues could sit empty while NFL and NBA arenas overflow with fans.

According to Tebas, American leagues aren't visiting Europe for sightseeing purposes. They're cultivating supporter bases, 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 Attempts and Obstacles

LaLiga's 2023 proposal advanced considerably before collapsing. Last October, both UEFA and Spain's football federation granted approval for the Miami fixture. However, player backlash intensified, and promoter Relevent ultimately cancelled the event, citing insufficient preparation time.

That wasn't the league's first setback either. A similar U.S. game was arranged in 2019 until FIFA intervened. FIFA's governing council stressed that "official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association." Barcelona subsequently abandoned the proposal.

For football bettors tracking LaLiga action, any future American fixtures could significantly influence betting markets. Squads making the transatlantic journey would confront jet lag and schedule disruptions. These factors could affect performance in matches surrounding the U.S. trip, potentially creating valuable wagering opportunities on those contests.

Tebas also used the platform to criticize the protracted Manchester City financial proceedings. City faces more than 100 charges for allegedly 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.