In a move that could reshape the global football landscape, Spain's LaLiga and Italy's top-flight Serie A are actively pursuing plans to host competitive league matches on American soil. The groundbreaking initiative, confirmed by the league's respective chiefs, mirrors the Premier League's successful strategy to expand its international footprint.
Formal discussions are already underway, with LaLiga president Javier Tebas revealing a dedicated committee is in place to make the ambitious project a reality. The motivation is clear: to tap into the massive and lucrative North American market, much like the NFL and NBA have done with their London games.
The American Dream: A New Frontier for European Football
This isn't a novel concept for LaLiga. The league has previously attempted to take a fixture between Barcelona and Girona to Miami, a plan that was ultimately blocked by fierce opposition from FIFA and Spanish football authorities. However, the recent success of other leagues has reignited the ambition.
"We are working on that,” stated Tebas. “We are quite advanced in our discussions and we have a committee working on it. It is an interesting project.”
Serie A Joins the Race for Transatlantic Fixtures
Italy's Serie A is not far behind. League CEO Luigi De Siervo confirmed they are also in the process of examining the feasibility of exporting matches abroad. De Siervo pointed to the undeniable commercial success of the NFL's international games as a model to emulate, suggesting that “if the NFL and NBA come to play in Europe, it is right for us to go and play in the United States.”
The Italian league sees this as a crucial step to close the financial gap with the Premier League, whose vastly superior television rights deals have made it the richest league in the world.
The Premier League's Precedent and FIFA's Stance
The driving force behind this renewed push is the Premier League's own progress. At its recent shareholders' meeting, a majority of clubs voted in favour of exploring a similar concept for the 2024/25 season, dubbed 'Project Anchorage'.
A key hurdle has already been cleared: FIFA. The world governing body has softened its previously rigid stance against league matches being played outside their home territory. Their new, more open position has effectively given the green light for other leagues to pursue their own international games.
A final decision from both LaLiga and Serie A is anticipated in the coming weeks, potentially heralding a new era where seeing elite European football live becomes a regular feature for fans in the United States.
