From Fiji to Latvia - are cross-border football leagues the future?

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SparkLogic

The prospect of cross-border football leagues in Europe is gaining traction, with Latvian president Maksims Krivunecs proposing a 'Baltic League' that could include Estonia and Lithuania. The idea has been floated before, but Krivunecs believes it's now the right time to bring it to fruition.

The concept involves clubs from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania competing in a single league, with the top four teams from each country facing off against each other to determine national champions. This format would allow for more competitive games and potentially attract bigger crowds.

Krivunecs acknowledges that there are challenges to overcome, including securing broadcasting deals and convincing smaller clubs to join the competition. However, he is optimistic about the potential benefits of cross-border leagues, including increased financial resources and improved player development opportunities.

One example of a successful cross-border league can be found in Oceania, where the OFC Professional League has recently kicked off with two teams from New Zealand and one each from Australia, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu. The league promises to provide more competitive games and increased prize money for participating clubs.

While there are no immediate plans to revive a proposed 'Atlantic League' involving teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Scotland, Larman, who previously worked on projects in Asia, believes that cross-border competition could have value at the youth level.

Overall, the idea of cross-border football leagues in Europe is gaining traction, with potential benefits including increased competitiveness, improved player development opportunities, and increased financial resources.
 
OMG I'm so curious about this Baltic League thing 🤔! Can you imagine playing a match against teams from your neighboring countries? It would be like having an extra passport to play for 😄. But seriously, I think it's a great idea to boost competitiveness and attract more fans. However, how will the teams make ends meet financially if they're not getting decent broadcasting deals? 🤑

And what about the smaller clubs, Maksims said there are challenges to overcome... like convincing them to join 🤔. Have you seen the OFC Professional League in Oceania? It looks so cool! Two teams from NZ and one each from six other countries playing together 🌴.

I'm all for it though! More competitive games, increased prize money, improved player development opportunities... it's like a dream come true for football fans 💖. I just hope they can make it work without any major hiccups 😬.
 
omg i cant even think about eu football right now lol 🤯 I mean like what if we actually get a baltic league? that would be lit 🔥 can you imagine playing against azores in the group stage lol 😂 but seriously tho the more i think about it the more i'm all for it. more games means more money and we all know how passionate fans are so more competitive games = bigger crowds = more exciting football 🎉
 
I'm so excited about this new Baltic League idea 🤩! It's long overdue that European countries collaborate on a bigger stage. I mean, think about it - three small but passionate football nations coming together to create something truly unique. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to watch a league featuring some of the most talented players in Europe? The potential for increased financial resources and improved player development opportunities is huge 🤑. Of course, there are some logistical challenges to overcome, like broadcasting deals and convincing smaller clubs to join, but I think it's doable. And hey, if it works, who knows, maybe we'll see a European Super League 2.0? 🤯 The idea of a cross-border league in Oceania is already giving me life 😎 - it's amazing to see how something like that can bring people together and create new opportunities. Bring on the Baltic League! 💪
 
I think this Baltic League thingy sounds kinda cool 🤔. More competitive games and bigger crowds could be a win-win for everyone involved. I mean, imagine Latvian teams battling it out against Estonian and Lithuanian teams, it could get pretty intense! 😅 But yeah, there are probs some logistical hurdles to overcome, like getting the clubs on board and securing decent broadcasting deals. Still, if it works, it could bring in more cash for the smaller clubs and help 'em grow. Not bad, Latvia! 👍
 
I'm super stoked about this Baltic League concept 🤩! It's all about bringing those East European teams together to create a competitive atmosphere that'll draw in more fans and boost clubs' finances 💸. And can you imagine the excitement of watching a Latvian team go up against an Estonian squad? The OFC Pro League is already killing it in Oceania, so why not give it a shot in Europe? 🔥 Of course, there are some logistical hurdles to overcome, but I'm all for experimenting with new formats and seeing what works. It's time for the Baltic teams to shine on the international stage 🌟
 
I gotta say, a Baltic League sounds like a solid idea 🤔. It's about time we see some collaboration between our smaller European countries, you know? I mean, have you seen the state of football in Scandinavia lately? It's all about the big clubs and huge crowds, but what about the rest of us? A league that brings everyone together could be a game-changer 🚀. Plus, think about it, more competitive games = more exciting stuff for fans to watch! And let's not forget about the money – smaller clubs would love some extra cash 💸. It's worth giving it a shot, even if it means overcoming some logistical hurdles. Who knows, maybe we'll see the Netherlands and Belgium teams going up against each other soon 🏆.
 
Wow 🤩, thinkin' about this Baltic League thingy is crazy! It'd be so sick to have these countries competin' against each other, gettin' that European flair but with a twist 😎. I mean, can u imagine playin' at a stadium in Riga or Tallinn? The energy would be ELECTRIC 🔥! And the prize money? 🤑 That's like, a whole different level of competitiveness right there! Plus, it'd be awesome to see some of those smaller clubs gettin' the chance to shine. It's definitely gonna take some work to make it happen, but I'm here for it 😎
 
I'm so done with these new league ideas 🤯. It's all just a bunch of buzzwords like 'increased competitiveness' and 'financial resources'. Like, how much are they going to increase? And what's the point of having more teams competing in each other if it's just going to be some watered down version of the Champions League? I mean, I get that Estonia and Lithuania might want to have a league together, but can't they just stick with what they've got? 🤷‍♂️ And don't even get me started on broadcasting deals. It's all just a way for the suits in suits to make more money off us fans. 😒
 
lol 1 year too late lol 😂. so they're thinking of making a baltic league now? i remember when this was first floated around like 4 years ago...anyway i think it's about time. having teams from latvia, estonia, and lithuania competing against each other could be pretty cool. imagine the rivalries that would form between teams from different countries 🤔. and who knows maybe it'll attract some bigger clubs to join the competition which could lead to more money and better players for the local teams 💸. btw does anyone know if there's any progress on getting broadcasting deals sorted out?
 
I think it's dope to have a Baltic League 🤩. Can you imagine watching Latvian vs Estonian in the Champions League final? 😂 The idea of more competitive games and bigger crowds is a no-brainer. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to watch Vanuatu play in the OFC Professional League? 🌴 It'd be lit! 👏 But for real though, securing broadcasting deals will be tough. Anyone got connections with UEFA or FIFA that could help this out? 🤔
 
🤔 I think what's interesting about this proposed Baltic League is how it shows that even though smaller countries might feel like they can't compete on a bigger stage, we can actually work together to create our own opportunities 🌟. It's not just about the football, but about building bridges and creating new partnerships that can benefit everyone involved. And let's be real, who doesn't love the idea of more competitive games and bigger crowds? 😄 But seriously, I think this is a great reminder that even when we feel like we're small fish in a big pond, we have the power to create our own waves 🌊.
 
🤔 I'm not sure about this Baltic League idea... how reliable are the stats on the OFC Professional League? Like, what's the prize money for teams from Oceania, exactly? And isn't it just one league with 8 teams from various countries? 🏆 Don't get me wrong, I think more competitive games would be awesome, but let's not romanticize about the challenges to overcome without doing our due diligence on the numbers... 🔍 Need some credible sources on this before I start jumping on the bandwagon! 😐
 
omg I'm SO down for a Baltic League!!! 🤩 it would be sick to see clubs from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania competing together! the OFC Professional League example in Oceania is already proof that it can work, right? 🙌 and can you imagine the rivalries?! 🤯 my Latvian fave team FC Riga should def join this league ASAP!!! 💪
 
The thought of a Baltic League sounds kinda cool 🤔. I mean, imagine playing against teams from neighboring countries like Estonia or Lithuania – it could get pretty intense! 💪 But, for real, securing broadcasting deals might be a big hurdle 📺. And, you know, convincing smaller clubs to join might be tough too 😬. Still, if it can make the game more competitive and attract bigger crowds, I'm all for it 👍. That Oceania example with teams from all those Pacific Island nations was pretty cool – maybe we'll see something similar in Europe? 🌴
 
I'm not sure about this whole Baltic League thing... 🤔 I mean, don't get me wrong, it's cool that Latvian president Maksims Krivunecs is trying to bring European clubs together, but have you considered the potential disruption to traditional rivalries and league structures? It's like throwing a wrench into the works, you know?

And what about the smaller clubs? They might not even be able to compete with the bigger teams in terms of resources. I'm all for promoting competitiveness, but let's make sure we're not leaving anyone behind 🤷‍♂️.

I do think cross-border leagues have potential benefits, though - increased financial resources and improved player development opportunities are definitely worth exploring. But we need to approach this with a level head and consider all the implications before rushing in 📈.
 
I'm not sure if a Baltic League would work out but it's an interesting idea lol 🤔. I mean, can you imagine playing against your neighbors like that? It'd be weird at first but maybe it could lead to some cool rivalries. I've seen those OFC Professional League teams from Oceania and they seem like they're having a blast competing together 🌴. The thing is, Europe's got such a big club scene already, would smaller clubs really join a league with bigger teams? And what about the broadcasting deals, that'd be a huge hurdle to overcome 📺. Still, it's worth a shot, who knows maybe we'll see some awesome football in the future! ⚽️
 
I'm low-key excited about this Baltic League thingy 🤩🏆. I mean, think about it, a single league with teams from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania competing against each other? It's like the UEFA Champions League on steroids 💪. And the idea of top four teams facing off for national champions is genius 😎. Just imagine the hype, the drama, the goal celebrations 🎉. Plus, it could bring in some serious cash for smaller clubs and give them a chance to compete with the big boys. The only thing holding me back from fully on board is that I don't want any of our teams to get creamed by the Estonians or Lithuanians 😂. Still, if anyone can make it work, Krivunecs seems like the man 🙏. Maybe this will be the next big thing in European football? Only time (and a strong broadcasting deal) will tell 📺👀
 
Wow, can u imagine playing European footy with teams from different countries? 🏆🇱🇻 It's like a dream for some young players! Interesting to see how it could affect the sport in Europe tho, might create more rivalries and excitement. Wouldn't mind seeing it happen in Latvia or Estonia one day 😊
 
I don’t usually comment but I think it’s kinda cool that Latvian president Maksims Krivunecs is proposing a 'Baltic League'... like, who wouldn’t want to see football matches between clubs from different countries, you know? 🤔 It could be a great way to increase competitiveness and attract more fans. But at the same time, I can imagine it might be tough for smaller clubs to join in... they might need some convincing. 🤑 And what about broadcasting deals, man... that's like a whole other thing. 😅 Still, I think it’s worth giving it a shot. Maybe we could see something similar happening with teams from Scandinavia and Scotland? That would be awesome! ⚽️
 
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