LaLiga president Javier Tebas insists league matches 'WILL be played abroad' in the 2025-26 season... as he claims top-flight chiefs are looking to organise a match in the United States

LaLiga president Javier Tebas has insisted that league matches will be played abroad from 2025-26 and admitted Spanish chiefs are planning a match in the U.S.

Tebas has previously expressed his desire to to play a league game in America and had sought to bring two LaLiga sides - Barcelona and Girona - back in 2018. 

However, that hit a stumbling block when FIFA objected, with its council resolving that 'official league matches must be played within the territory of the respective member association'. 

However, following a resolution between New York City-based event promoter Relevent Sports and FIFA earlier this month, the door has been opened to potentially staging games abroad. 

Speaking about the idea, Tebas told Spanish newspaper Expansion: 'I think it could be in the 2025-26 season, but La Liga will play official matches abroad.

'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.'

According to The Athletic, Relevent recently accused FIFA’s directive, that domestic games should be played in their home territory, as preventing fair competition.

FIFA and Relevent settled on their case without prejudice earlier this month.

Subsequently FIFA joined US Soccer as a co-defendant, with the national association already accused of seeking to block the growth of Relevent Sports' business as a promoter. 

There has already been movement towards domestic match-ups taking place hosted abroad with the likes of the Spanish and Italian FAs staging their respective Super Cups in Saudi Arabia in recent years. 

The Premier League has also attempted to capitalise on the popularity of the English game Stateside with marquee pre-season clashes. 

The league hosted a Summer Series with six teams involved last year, while in 2024 Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal will all face-off against one another in the country. 

The US is set to stage a revamped - and greatly expanded - Club World Cup in 2025, a year before they will host the World Cup.