Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga, expressed hopes for the league to host a regular-season match in the US as early as the 2025-26 season, citing a potential rule change by FIFA regarding overseas games.
Tebas emphasized that the Spanish top flight is hoping to play games overseas, and is targeting a 2025-26 start date for the first fixture held abroad. The US is the first expected destination, with La Liga eager to capitalise on growing interest in football prior to the 2026 World Cup.
Tebas said. “I don’t know when, but this time LaLiga 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 LaLiga after Spain. Other very competitive leagues are coming so we can’t always do the same thing, they would overtake us.”
While Spanish clubs have shown interest in such a move overseas in the past, with Barcelona even proposing a Catalonian derby with Girona to be held in Miami in 2018 – but FIFA and US Soccer blocked the game.
Tebas acknowledged the challenges posed by competing leagues and the need for innovation. “Other very competitive leagues are coming so we can’t always do the same thing, they would overtake us,” he stated, highlighting why he feel it’s imperative for La Liga to adapt and evolve.
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Regarding goal-line technology, Tebas tackled worries regarding its efficiency and expense. Rather than solely relying on this technology, he suggested expanding the use of cameras to aid referees, advocating for a more budget-friendly strategy to enhance officiating quality.
“Goal-line technology is not a perfect technology and that is the first reason we don’t have it,” Tebas explained. “But it is not only that: throughout a season, ghost goals happen three or four times and If you add to that that it is not perfect, the cost is very high for the use given to it: it means investing between five and six million for the two divisions to use it once and with no doubts. What I do advocate is to implement more cameras that help the referees.”