Failure Isn’t in Tebas’s Dictionary: La Liga’s US Dream Persists
23 October 2025
Overview
La Liga president Javier Tebas spoke publicly for the first time after the Barcelona-Villarreal match scheduled in Miami on December 20 was canceled. He explained the decision and defended the ongoing efforts to bring a formal La Liga game to the United States, insisting the project remains alive.
The announcement was made at an official event attended by Rafael Lozano, head of the Spanish Football Federation, and Fran Soto, head of the referees, along with other officials. Tebas emphasized that an international fixture program is under consideration and that each league could play at most one match outside its home country, with the host country limited to one such game.
Asked if he regarded himself a loser, Tebas replied that loss is relative. He reiterated that Miami wasn’t among La Liga’s top ten objectives and that the road ahead remains long but achievable, insisting that failure does not exist in his life and that the project will continue to move forward.
He noted that a special committee has been created to organize these international games and highlighted the Relivent agreement signed in 2018, which includes a two‑billion‑euro minimum guarantee tied to audiovisual rights, underscoring that the deal covers more than just a single match.
Tebas explained that the agreement isn’t solely about the Miami match and that the two clubs mentioned—Barcelona and Villarreal—see potential benefits differently: Barcelona anticipated broader sponsorship and marketing revenues in the United States, while Villarreal expected only limited compensation for ticket-holders and traveling fans. The league maintains it does not directly handle revenue distribution; that remains the clubs’ and Relivent’s responsibility.
Regarding editorial policy, Tebas defended the decision to crop certain footage from broadcasts, saying the league’s editorial stance has been consistent for years: everything shown on screen must relate to the match, and in‑stadium incidents that do not affect the game are not displayed in the highlights. He added that footage can still surface on social media later, but the broadcast remains faithful to the policy.
On communications with players’ unions and FIFA, Tebas said meetings have continued since 2018, with ongoing discussions about the plan and future updates. He noted a new meeting would be set to continue the dialogue, despite scheduling challenges that prevented him from attending a recent gathering.
Villarreal’s complaint and the obstacles ahead
Tebas acknowledged that timing was not ideal. When the American firm announced the decision at 7 pm, the league issued a statement to ensure the information reached clubs directly, rather than through the American press. The timing was unfortunate, but Tebas argued that circumstances dictated the move and that the broader process remained unaffected.
He explained that a possible approval from the CONCACAF and other regulators had not been the real obstacle; rather, a tapestry of legal and sporting complications remained. He cited partial approvals from UEFA and the European Commission, but stressed that obstacles persist. He also noted that Real Madrid players have a habit of raising concerns, but the league would press on with its international ambitions.
Finally, Tebas rejected accusations that the league orchestrated a TV campaign to hide player protests, arguing that the day coincided with Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns and that the broadcast plan had been prepared well in advance. Concluding, Tebas remained confident in pursuing the project, promising ongoing collaboration with FIFA and international bodies to realize the dream of an official La Liga match abroad, with the real failure being not trying at all.
Punchlines to close with a smile: If Tebas says failure isn’t in his vocabulary, maybe his spell checker needs a reboot.
The quest for a US La Liga game is like a road trip: great scenery, questionable coffee, and somehow you still end up in the same city — just with better weather.
