La Liga president Javier Tebas has confirmed plans for league games to be played overseas, starting with fixtures in the United States in 2025/26. Tebas revealed that an out-of-court agreement was reached with FIFA earlier this month, which would allow leagues to stage competitive games internationally. However, litigation with US Soccer is still ongoing. Tebas emphasized the potential benefits of hosting official matches in the U.S., stating that it would strengthen La Liga’s position in the North American market, which is the second-largest market for the league after Spain.

He acknowledged that other leagues are also exploring similar opportunities to play matches overseas as a lucrative prospect for clubs. However, he recognized that this move could potentially upset local match-going fans. Notably, Spanish football has previously expanded into other markets, with the Supercopa – Spain’s equivalent of the Community Shield – being held in Saudi Arabia during four of the past five seasons. Furthermore, La Liga’s decision not to adopt Hawkeye goal-line technology, as in the Premier League, has attracted attention.

La Liga relies on VAR cameras for goal-line decisions due to a reluctance to invest in the costly technology. Overall, Tebas’s announcement and the ongoing discussions reflect the league’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its global presence and competitiveness while grappling with the challenges and opportunities associated with international expansion.