La Liga holds talks on possibility of exhibition matches in Taiwan

Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) Negotiations are underway to potentially bring Spanish football clubs to Taiwan for exhibition matches, an executive of the Spanish football league's top division said Friday.

At a public event in Taipei on Friday to promote Campeonato Nacional de Liga de Primera División, more commonly known as La Liga, it was revealed that the Spanish football division has plans to organize exhibition matches in Taiwan, which could happen as early as the 2025-26 season.

Michael Sun (孫至誠), executive vice president of La Liga Greater China, said that if negotiations are successful, an announcement could be made after the Jan. 25-Feb. 2 Lunar New Year holiday.

Sun said the prospective La Liga exhibition matches would be akin to overseas exhibition games organized by the United States' National Basketball Association (NBA).

He said that Taiwan is an important market for La Liga, and if plans to bring games to Taiwan come to fruition, it will be the first time in history Taiwan's soccer fans will be able to experience La Liga matches up close.

Sun added that current negotiations include the possibility of bringing La Liga clubs to Taiwan every year for matches so Taiwanese fans may also get to know more Spanish football teams.

As to the venue for such exhibition games, Sun said preliminary plans are to hold them in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung, though the possibility of other locations has not been ruled out.

He added that with the future establishment of a dedicated Ministry of Sport with related resources, it is possible more international sports events will be willing to come to Taiwan.

At the La Liga promo, former Spanish footballer Fernando Morientes of Real Madrid was also present as a ambassador for the division.

Morientes said because his trip on this occasion was short with a tight schedule, he hopes to have a chance to return in the future and better engage with fans.

Representing Spain, La Liga is one of the so-called "Big Five" leagues in the world's top five football markets that also includes England, Germany, Italy and France.

Other than Morientes, since its inception in 1929, La Liga has consistently given the world some of its most famous footballers, including Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.