La Liga to Begin Hosting Games in the U.S. This Year
In an effort to combat the popularity of the Premier League, which is now back in full swing, Spanish football system La Liga will be hosting games as soon as this year in the United States, The Independent reports. This is something that the Premier League has refused to take on in recent years for fear of backlash in home territories and from purists of the sport.
La Liga has thus partnered with International Champions Cup organizers, Relevent, to develop football in the U.S. and bring official matches stateside for the next 15 years. The Spanish league is hoping to expand their international reach in key markets, also deciding to live-stream games on Facebook in India, China, and the U.S., where there is a sizable Hispanic population. In 2015, La Liga opened an official office in New York, appointing Raúl of the New York Cosmos and David Villa of New York City FC as ambassadors.
The move for La Liga to bring matches to the U.S. arrives as most major American sports leagues have already been experimenting with games overseas. The NFL has held games in London and Mexico City for years, while the NBA continues to take its excitement abroad. Major League Baseball is scheduled to visit London for the first time next year.
For more on La Liga's sights on the U.S., follow on over to The Independent.
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