LaLiga seeks internationalisation: Are overseas matches on the horizon?

A global future for LaLiga

The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, has reaffirmed his commitment to taking matches from the Spanish competition abroad, a strategy he considers essential for enhancing the LaLiga brand. During an event in San Sebastián, where he met with alumni of the Tecnun Engineering School at the University of Navarra, Tebas outlined his ambitions and future plans for Spanish football.

Tebas mentioned that his goal is to emulate the success that other sports have had by holding events in Spain. Among the possible venues for these matches are the United States, Casablanca, and Saudi Arabia. “We will keep trying,” he stated determinedly, highlighting that FIFA is working on a regulation that would allow one match per league to be played outside the corresponding country.

In his speech, he also analysed the performance of Spanish teams in European competitions this season. Despite several clubs being eliminated in the quarter-finals, such as Atlético de Madrid and Rayo Vallecano, Tebas remained optimistic about future possibilities. “In ten years, LaLiga has won many titles,” he emphasised.

Tebas did not miss the opportunity to discuss the current economic situation of LaLiga, highlighting that it is “the most sustainable in Europe” alongside the Bundesliga. However, he warned about the economic disparities between leagues such as the British Premier League and the Spanish ones: “We cannot compare different countries; there is a lot of economic disparity between them.”

Taking advantage of his speech, he also referred to Sevilla FC, pointing out that they have spent more money than they have received in recent years. Such situations pose significant challenges for Spanish clubs as they seek to balance their finances.

Concluding his speech, Tebas addressed logistical issues related to the start of LaLiga 2026-2027. He revealed that they wish to start that season during the weekend of August 15 and mentioned that teams involved in the quarter-finals of the World Cup will have matches scheduled during the week.