La Liga president Javier Tebas has announced he wants league matches to be played in the United States by the 2025-26 season.

Tebas has made his intention to bring Spanish football overseas clear. Saudi Arabia has hosted two four out of the last five Spanish Super Cup tournaments and are set to host the next five editions up to 2029.

The move to bring league games abroad has been in the works for some time but was met with resistance by former Spanish FA president Luis Rubiales. But with Rubiales now out of the picture, La Liga looks set to take to America right in time for the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Barcelona proposed a Catalonian derby with Girona to be played in Miami in 2018, but FIFA and US Soccer blocked the move leading to a legal battle with organisers Relevent Sports. FIFA have since settled with Relevent and were dropped from the lawsuit - increasing the likelihood of domestic league games being played abroad. 

‍“I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad,” La Liga president Tebas told Spanish newspaper Expansion.

“An official match in the U.S. will strengthen our position in the North American market, which is the second market for La Liga after Spain. Other very competitive leagues are coming so we cannot always do the same thing, but we cannot allow them to overtake us.”

This isn’t the first time European leagues have broached playing abroad during the league season and it won’t be the last. With revenues across the French, Italian and Spanish top flights dwindling, they have resorted to thinking outside the box when it comes to bridging the gap with the Premier League.

While fans across the world will be presented with the opportunity to watch their teams in the flesh, you have to wonder where the ordinary, local match-going fans fit into these plans long term.