Barcelona women’s team to play in the US from ‘next season’

DOHA

Spanish football giants Barcelona is in talks to put a team in the American National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) from next year, a club official said on Oct. 16.

Javier Sobrino, Barcelona’s strategy and knowledge director, said discussions were ongoing to complete the groundbreaking move.

“We are planning to open a franchise in the U.S., a Barcelona franchise in the American league,” Sobrino said on the sidelines of a conference in Qatar.

“We are right now in discussion to see whether it is possible or not.

“It will be immediate, next season is our goal, if not the following one.

“A women’s team playing in the U.S.”

The NWSL is arguably the biggest league in the women’s game.

More than 650,000 fans watched matches in the season which ended last month.

There are nine teams in the league, though Barcelona would be the first from outside the U.S.

Sobrino said the U.S. franchise would be known as Barcelona.

It is thought likely that the team would play in Los Angeles.

Barcelona’s interest in establishing a U.S. franchise also reflects the astonishing growth in the women’s game globally.

FIFA said last year that the women’s game is the biggest growth opportunity in sport.

Its profile is set to rise even further next year with the World Cup being held in France.

The U.S. is the current world champion.