FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta has confirmed the club’s readiness to play an official La Liga match in the United States next season, signaling a significant push towards global football expansion. This ambition stems from ongoing discussions over the past year, with La Liga’s leadership reportedly keen on the prospect of hosting a competitive fixture across the Atlantic. Laporta emphasized the club’s strong connection with its American fanbase, stating, “We are delighted to go to the United States every year because we feel loved, we feel respected as a club, we have plenty of fans there.”

The idea of a competitive Spanish league match held overseas is not entirely new, though it has never materialized. A previous attempt in 2018 to stage a match between Barcelona and Girona in the US was met with significant backlash from Spanish players, leading to threats of strike action and ultimately the proposal’s shelving by La Liga president Javier Tebas. Despite these past hurdles, the current renewed interest from both Laporta and Tebas suggests a stronger alignment in vision for the league’s commercialization efforts on an international scale, particularly in the lucrative US market.

Laporta reiterated Barcelona’s role as a key contributor to La Liga, asserting, “We are a club that belongs to La Liga, and we are responsible because we want to commercialize La Liga as best as possible. Again, I’m open and [Barcelona] is at the disposal of La Liga.” This cooperative stance highlights a strategic intent to leverage the club’s global appeal for the broader benefit of the league’s brand and financial reach, aligning with the growing trend of top European clubs seeking to engage international audiences directly through competitive play.

Beyond the strategic commercial ventures, Laporta also touched upon crucial aspects of player development within the club, notably the promising talent of Lamine Yamal. Yamal, who has already secured two La Liga titles and played a pivotal role in Spain’s European Championship glory in 2024, has drawn comparisons to club legend Lionel Messi due to his remarkable on-pitch impact and distinctive playing style. This parallel is particularly pertinent given Messi’s current presence and immense popularity surge in the US with Inter Miami, indirectly boosting the profile of soccer in the region.

Laporta articulated a mindful approach to nurturing Yamal’s career, drawing upon lessons learned from managing Messi’s development. He stressed the importance of ensuring the young forward enjoys his time with the team and maintains a balanced life. “He is very professional and he knows that to be the best and to be at the top, he needs to be fit, he needs to train, he needs to follow the advice of the coach and the people that are around him and basically to feel happy, to feel that he’s enjoying playing football,” Laporta stated, underscoring a holistic view of player well-being and growth.

Currently, FC Barcelona is undergoing its preseason tour in Asia, having recently secured a dominant 7-3 victory over FC Seoul and preparing for another fixture against Daegu FC. This tour serves as vital preparation for the demanding campaigns ahead in both La Liga and the Champions League. Laporta expressed optimism about building on the success of the previous domestic double-winning season, eagerly anticipating the contributions of new squad additions.

Among the notable new signings is English forward Marcus Rashford, whose acquisition Laporta hopes will re-ignite his form from his prime days. The Barcelona president views Rashford’s move to a different league as an opportunity for the player to return to his once-acclaimed status as the best in England. This strategic transfer, coupled with other squad enhancements, aims to bolster Barcelona’s competitiveness across all fronts, ensuring they remain a formidable force in global football.

While the prospect of playing more matches, particularly in new markets like the US, offers significant commercial upside for clubs like Barcelona, Laporta acknowledged the practical challenges. He openly admitted that the “soccer calendar is too tight,” necessitating a deeper roster to manage the increased fixture load. This implies a greater investment in squad depth to maintain competitiveness across multiple competitions and geographical locations, highlighting the complex balance between global expansion and player welfare within the demanding landscape of professional Spanish football.