December 23 – FC Barcelona, part of a multi-pronged Spanish football assault force on the commercial opportunities provided by the US market, have said they are looking to set up a professional women’s team in the country and are in discussion with the US Soccer Federation (USSF) to do so.
Speaking to leading US sports business publication Sports Business Journal, Barcelona’s managing director America Arno Trabesinger said that he was in discussion with USSF president Sunil Gulati and that a decision on the project would likely be taken at the start of 2017.
The location of the proposed franchise was not revealed by Trabesinger said: “Women’s soccer is very, very important in the U.S. If you compare it with other countries, like Spain and Germany, much more girls are playing soccer here than in Europe, and this makes us confident to participate and take part in the development of women’s soccer in this country. This is one of our important goals for the next year.”
Barca opened an office in New York in September and is currently in negotiation over pre-season matches for its all-star men’s team.
Last year the club played in the US-organised International Champions Cup but its games were played in Europe, including against Liverpool at London’s Wembley Stadium.
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