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La Liga move to stage first competitive match in the US

A company owned by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross has struck a deal to represent the Spanish league in North America.

SPAIN’S LA LIGA today announced that they will open a New York office and bring a fixture to the US as part of a 15-year joint venture to promote the league across the Atlantic.

The organisation La Liga North America (LLNA) has been formed by La Liga and sport promoter Relevent and a statement today says the joint venture will “promote soccer in the US and Canada”.

LLNA will represent the Spanish league in the region and promises to support youth academies and coach development as well as bringing friendly matches and an official La Liga game to the US – at present it’s unclear whether LLNA will bring more than one fixture to North America.

LLNA also indicates they will have a stake in marketing agreements and ‘consumer activations’. Relevent chairman Stephen Ross – owner of the Miami Dolphins and part-owner of their home ground Hard Rock Stadium – says: ”this extraordinary joint venture is the next giant leap in growing soccer’s popularity in North America.

“This unique relationship will create new opportunities for millions of North American soccer fans to experience the most passionate, exciting, and highest level of soccer in the world.”

NFL: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins Miami's Hard Rock stadium looks an early favourite to host Spanish clubs when they travel to play. SIPA USA / PA Images SIPA USA / PA Images / PA Images

The advent of a competitive league match on US soil will be a first should for a major European league it come to pass. England’s Premier League has long mooted the option of trans-Atlantic or far-flung fixtures, including the ill-fated ‘game 39′.

In the months ahead, both the NFL and NBA will stage fixtures in London, while English rugby sides Saracens and London Irish played a Premiership game in New Jersey in 2016.

Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, says. “This ground-breaking agreement is certain to give a major impulse to the popularity of the beautiful game in the US and Canada. Relevent has filled stadiums across the US with the International Champions Cup, [and] we’re thrilled to partner with them on a joint mission to grow soccer in North America.”

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