In an exclusive interview with Expansion, Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga, discussed the league’s future plans and its global expansion. Tebas emphasized the importance of tapping into international markets, particularly North America, to solidify La Liga’s position as one of the world’s premier football leagues. He expressed his thoughts for expanding La Liga’s global footprint and stated that he believes official matches will be played abroad in the 2025-26 season.
Tebas acknowledged the challenges posed by competing leagues and the need for innovation. “Other very competitive leagues are coming so we can’t always do the same thing,” he said. “They would overtake us.” The president emphasized that an official match in the US would strengthen La Liga’s position in the North American market, which is currently second to Spain.
Regarding technology, Tebas addressed concerns about goal-line technology and proposed a more cost-effective approach to improving officiating standards. “Goal-line technology is not a perfect technology and that is why we don’t have it,” he explained. However, he advocated for implementing more cameras to assist referees instead. “What I do advocate is to implement more cameras that help referees,” he said.
Overall, Tebas expressed his determination to make La Liga a truly global force in football and his belief that innovation and expansion are key to achieving this goal.