La Liga Eyes Morocco Match as Tebas Seeks Global Expansion

League president says hosting a game in Morocco is 'very likely' as part of push into Middle East and North Africa markets.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:10am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting breaking down a La Liga football match into sharp, overlapping geometric planes in the colors of the competing teams' uniforms.La Liga's push to bring top-level Spanish football to new international markets like Morocco is reflected in this cubist, geometric interpretation of the action on the pitch.Today in Miami

La Liga president Javier Tebas has expressed interest in hosting a league match in Morocco, citing the country's large fan base for Spanish football and its upcoming co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal. Tebas noted that while a match in the United States faced strong backlash from supporters, a game in Morocco would likely be more palatable given the geographic proximity between the two countries.

Why it matters

La Liga's push to expand its global reach and bring top-level Spanish football to new international markets is part of the league's strategy to grow its fanbase and commercial revenues. Morocco represents an attractive option given its shared history and cultural ties with Spain, as well as its status as a co-host for the 2030 World Cup.

The details

Earlier this season, La Liga attempted to host a match between Villarreal and Barcelona at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, but the plan was cancelled after facing strong opposition from supporters. Undeterred, Tebas has now set his sights on Morocco as a potential host country, noting the 'huge number of supporters of the Spanish League' there and the possibility of playing in Casablanca's new stadium.

  • In the current 2025-26 La Liga season, the league launched a campaign to host a match in the United States.
  • The Villarreal-Barcelona match planned for Miami was cancelled earlier this season due to fan backlash.
  • Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.

The players

Javier Tebas

The president of La Liga, Spain's top professional football league, who is seeking to expand the league's global reach and fanbase.

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What they’re saying

“Naturally, given the huge number of supporters of the Spanish League in Morocco, this is still very likely. We also like the idea of holding a match in the new stadium in Casablanca. Who knows? Why not?”

— Javier Tebas, La Liga President

“Our expansion in the Middle East and North Africa is extremely important. We have a huge fan base there, it could even be bigger than the Premier League. There is a historical relationship with Spain that is also reflected in football. It is very gratifying to see the recent successes of Moroccan football.”

— Javier Tebas, La Liga President

What’s next

Tebas and La Liga will continue exploring the possibility of hosting a league match in Morocco, potentially at the new stadium in Casablanca, as part of the league's broader efforts to grow its international fanbase and commercial presence.

The takeaway

La Liga's pursuit of a match in Morocco highlights the league's ambitions to expand beyond its traditional Spanish market and capitalize on the sport's global popularity, particularly in regions with strong cultural and historical ties to Spain.