The Athletic FC Podcast: La Liga Set for U.S. Match – Is the Premier League Next?
Date: August 19, 2025
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Adam Crafton, Matt Slater, Po Bolus (Barcelona correspondent)
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the breaking news that La Liga is on the verge of staging a competitive league match in Miami between Barcelona and Villarreal. The panel explores the motivation, obstacles, and controversy surrounding this proposed game, the influence of organizations like FIFA and Relevant, reactions in Spain, and what this means for the wider world of football—including whether the Premier League might follow suit.
Main Discussion Points & Key Insights
1. Will La Liga Really Play in the U.S. This Time?
[03:14–05:04]
- Context and Progress: Adam Crafton says this isn’t the first time La Liga’s tried to move a match overseas, but he believes this attempt will be successful.
- Most prior obstacles (legal barriers, U.S. Soccer opposition) have been removed after a long legal fight.
- MLS and U.S. soccer bodies likely have to be “on board to a certain extent”.
- UEFA, CONCACAF, and FIFA approvals still pending, signalling more hurdles but growing momentum.
- If approved, it will be the first-ever competitive La Liga match in the United States.
Adam Crafton [03:50]: “I do think this one will happen... some of the biggest obstacles appear to have been removed.”
2. Why Have Past Attempts Failed?
[05:04–08:39]
- Domestic League Fears: Matt Slater lays out deep-rooted resistance, especially from MLS, fearing exposure of its lesser quality and market “cannibalization” by European giants.
- U.S. sports leagues regularly play competitive games overseas, but they are generally the world’s best in their field and face less existential threat.
- Domestic leagues worry about undermining local football traditions.
- Specifics: Previous attempts (e.g., 2018 Miami proposal) were blocked by a combination of MLS, U.S. Soccer, and FIFA, leading to a long legal battle.
Matt Slater [05:20]: “If we allow the Premier League, La Liga, the big boys to go around the world... it just becomes chaotic.”
3. FIFA’s Complicated Position
[08:39–13:15]
- FIFA is publicly non-committal, having set up a working group rather than taking a clear stance.
- Settlement with Relevant has left FIFA “in a very weak position” legally; they risk another lawsuit if they block the game.
- The working group includes opposing interests—from La Liga’s Javier Tebas (pro-abroad matches) to representatives from MLS (staunchly against).
- Key Tension: FIFA may be delaying so the Club World Cup gets precedence as the “first” European club football in the U.S.
Adam Crafton [08:44]: “They made a working group... that was probably now, I mean, definitely over a year ago... it puts FIFA in a very weak position.”
Matt Slater [12:44]: “Fans, domestic fans, hate this... but the winds are blowing in one direction here.”
4. Who Is “Relevant” and Why Do They Matter?
[13:23–16:20]
- Relevant: A massive U.S. sports agency founded by billionaire Stephen Ross (owner of Miami Dolphins/Hard Rock Stadium).
- Pioneered organizing big European pre-season tournaments (International Champions Cup).
- Now key broker for European clubs/leagues eyeing North America.
- Have grown to partner globally with UEFA, not just in North America.
Matt Slater [13:35]: “They are like the go-to agency now for European leagues that want to do stuff in North America…”
5. Reaction in Spain: “It’s a Circus”
[16:20–19:35]
- Po Bolus (Barcelona correspondent) shares:
- The idea is controversial, especially with Real Madrid—who automatically oppose anything La Liga president Javier Tebas pursues.
- There are issues of “sporting integrity”—Barcelona, with its bigger U.S. fanbase, effectively gets a ‘home’ advantage.
- Some La Liga managers and the Spanish players’ union balk at the lack of notification and the circus-like feel.
- Widespread feeling: “Football has gone so far in that direction [entertainment]... they are already in the circus.”
Po Bolus [16:30]: “Yeah, it’s not nice... but in a way that’s the circus that they are in, that’s the industry that they are in and that they are getting loads of money to get this job.”
- Real Madrid’s Position: Heavy on competitive integrity but cited as hypocritical given their push for the Super League and Club World Cup.
Matt Slater [18:04]: “There is a competitive integrity issue here. But... Real are still pushing hard for the Super League. They absolutely love the Club World Cup.”
6. Why Miami? Why the U.S.?
[24:48–28:55]
- Venue Reasons: Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium is owned by Stephen Ross (Relevant’s boss), offering flexibility and a star-powered location (Messi at Inter Miami, Beckham connections).
- Economic Aim: U.S. is a “treasure trove” of fans, TV viewers, and potential future sponsors. Spanish-speaking communities make Miami a natural choice.
- Caveats: Actual immediate revenue from a single match is limited (tickets, merchandise, local sponsors), but the long-term gain is in “first mover advantage” and marketing value.
Adam Crafton [24:56]: “European clubs view [the US] as this unlocked treasure trove of potential revenue…”
7. Who Wins Financially?
[28:36–32:04]
- Likely not a huge windfall from one match, but the “race” is to be the first European league to do it and unlock future sponsorship/TV leverage.
- La Liga is desperate to close the gap with the Premier League, whose international TV revenue is now twice as large.
- The game will serve as a “tent-pole moment” to pitch future TV and sponsorship deals.
Matt Slater [28:55]: “This one game on its own isn’t really going to move the needle. This is about first mover advantage.”
8. U.S. Soccer’s and MLS’s Deeper Concerns
[32:29–37:25]
- The existential threat for MLS isn’t just La Liga and the Premier League, but also Mexican, Argentine, and Brazilian leagues leveraging diaspora populations.
- Main concern: foreign games could cannibalize local sponsorship, TV deals, and reduce attention for MLS’s own growth.
- There will likely be future limits on number of foreign league games per season on U.S. soil.
Adam Crafton [32:29]: “The thing MLS are worried about? It’s not the odd La Liga game. It’s the Mexican league… the Argentine league… then all of a sudden, you’ve got 50 to 75 games on your territory per season.”
Could the Premier League Be Next?
9. Will the Premier League Follow?
[39:42–47:09]
- Official Stance: No current plans, but “never say never.” Stock answer is carefully hedged.
- Historical Context: In 2008, Premier League floated the “39th game” abroad—to widespread backlash and eventual abandonment.
- Current Climate: Many club owners, especially Americans, now see merit (revenue pressure from PSR/Financial Fair Play), though there is division among clubs.
- Global Expansion: Premier League is already a global brand through summer tours, and its international TV deals only get bigger.
- Barriers: UK government could intervene, especially with new regulators and strong public/fan opposition linked to club “heritage”.
Adam Crafton [39:54]: “We have no current plans is the stock answer… it’s never a hard ‘never’.”
Matt Slater [43:05]: “...the Premier League tried it. The 39th game. Went down like a bucket of sick. Government hated it, fans hated it.”
Adam Crafton [47:24]: “There is one protection… the football governance bill… would mean you need the approval of the regulator before playing one of these games…”
10. Who Really “Owns” Premier League Football?
[49:55–50:46]
- The Premier League—players, managers, fans, owners—are overwhelmingly international now.
- The only “English” elements left may be referees and journalists.
Adam Crafton [49:55]: “How much of this product is really English?… Most players aren’t English, most coaches aren’t English, most fans aren’t English, owners aren’t English.”
11. The Future: Inevitable Globalization?
[50:49–51:09]
- Gentle self-mockery about being the last “English” parts of the Premier League: journalists and referees.
- Football’s drift toward globalization and spectacle seems unstoppable.
Notable Quotes
- Adam Crafton [03:50]: “I do think this one will happen… some of the biggest obstacles appear to have been removed.”
- Matt Slater [05:20]: “If we allow the Premier League, La Liga, the big boys to go around the world… it just becomes chaotic.”
- Po Bolus [16:30]: “Yeah, it’s not nice… but in a way that’s the circus that they are in… they are getting loads of money to get this job.”
- Matt Slater [18:04]: “There is a competitive integrity issue here. But… Real are still pushing hard for the Super League. They absolutely love the Club World Cup.”
- Adam Crafton [24:56]: “European clubs view [the US] as this unlocked treasure trove of potential revenue…”
- Matt Slater [28:55]: “This one game on its own isn’t really going to move the needle. This is about first mover advantage.”
- Matt Slater [43:05]: “…the 39th game. Went down like a bucket of sick. Government hated it, fans hated it.”
Timestamps of Major Segments
- 03:14 – Episode proper begins: La Liga-Miami match possibility, hurdles
- 05:04 – Previous failures & MLS/FIFA resistance explained
- 08:39 – FIFA’s position and legal context
- 13:23 – Who are Relevant? Why are they central?
- 16:20 – Spanish reaction: competitive integrity and “circus” feeling
- 24:48 – Why Miami? U.S. as the “prize market”
- 28:36 – Who gains financially?
- 32:29 – MLS’s real fears: other leagues encroaching
- 39:42 – Could the Premier League follow? History and (hedged) official lines
- 43:05 – The “39th game” debacle revisited
- 47:24 – UK regulation and political dimensions
- 49:55 – Is the Premier League still English?
- 50:49 – Inevitable globalization
Conclusion
This episode thoroughly dissects the looming reality of domestic football matches staged overseas, focusing on La Liga’s likely first steps, the legal and political complexities, the financial arms race with the Premier League, and the shifting sands of global football. While fan resistance and regulator intervention may slow the process, the panel concludes that the globalization of competitive fixtures is probably unstoppable—and the Premier League will eventually “follow the money,” even if only after others take the first leap.