The prospect of cross-border football leagues has gained momentum, with several countries exploring the idea of joining forces to create a more competitive and financially sustainable league.
In Oceania, the OFC Professional League is set to launch, bringing together eight clubs from seven countries for a highly competitive tournament. The competition will feature teams from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the winner earning a spot in Fifa's annual Intercontinental Cup and the expanded Club World Cup.
However, not all experts are convinced that cross-border leagues are the answer to Europe's football problems. Maksims Krivunecs, president of Latvia's top-flight Virsliga, believes that his country is struggling to compete with European giants due to a lack of broadcasting deals and sponsorship revenue.
Krivunecs proposes a "Baltic League" that would include Estonia and Lithuania, which he hopes could help bridge the gap between the smaller leagues and the big boys. The league would feature a single group stage followed by a knockout phase, with the winner earning additional prize money.
Other European countries have also explored similar ideas in the past, including proposals for a "BeNeLiga" involving Belgium and the Netherlands, and an "Atlantic League" that would include teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Scotland. However, these plans have yet to materialize.
Larman, who has worked on projects in over 100 countries, believes that cross-border competition is something he regularly discusses with colleagues, especially in Asia. He suggests that a more defined structure could help smaller leagues compete with bigger clubs and attract more fans.
While there are pros and cons to cross-border leagues, it's clear that the idea is gaining traction as football associations look for innovative ways to improve the game. As one expert puts it, "If we show the success of this competition, it might trigger different discussions."
In Oceania, the OFC Professional League is set to launch, bringing together eight clubs from seven countries for a highly competitive tournament. The competition will feature teams from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu, with the winner earning a spot in Fifa's annual Intercontinental Cup and the expanded Club World Cup.
However, not all experts are convinced that cross-border leagues are the answer to Europe's football problems. Maksims Krivunecs, president of Latvia's top-flight Virsliga, believes that his country is struggling to compete with European giants due to a lack of broadcasting deals and sponsorship revenue.
Krivunecs proposes a "Baltic League" that would include Estonia and Lithuania, which he hopes could help bridge the gap between the smaller leagues and the big boys. The league would feature a single group stage followed by a knockout phase, with the winner earning additional prize money.
Other European countries have also explored similar ideas in the past, including proposals for a "BeNeLiga" involving Belgium and the Netherlands, and an "Atlantic League" that would include teams from the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Scandinavia, and Scotland. However, these plans have yet to materialize.
Larman, who has worked on projects in over 100 countries, believes that cross-border competition is something he regularly discusses with colleagues, especially in Asia. He suggests that a more defined structure could help smaller leagues compete with bigger clubs and attract more fans.
While there are pros and cons to cross-border leagues, it's clear that the idea is gaining traction as football associations look for innovative ways to improve the game. As one expert puts it, "If we show the success of this competition, it might trigger different discussions."
It's about time these countries got together and started making some noise in the football world. A cross-border league sounds like a great way to bring more excitement and competition to the sport. I mean, who doesn't love watching their favorite team go up against teams from other countries? 
It's definitely something that could help smaller leagues stay relevant and attract new fans.
It's definitely worth exploring more.
We need to find a way to level the playing field so all teams can compete on an equal footing.
. its about gettin more money in from broadcasting rights n sponsorship deals. like whats wrong w 8 teams from oceania givin each other a run for their money? 
. n europe, i feel latvia should def join a baltic league w estonia & lithuania. its not about bein a 'bigger' league or enithing, its about equalin the playing field. 
. maybe a more defined structure 4 smaller leagues wd help attract more fans n increase prize money. 
n who knows, might just see some amazin results! 
. Having teams from Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and others competing against each other would be so much fun to watch! But I'm not sure if it's the right solution for Europe's problems. Latvia's president sounds like he's got some valid points about lack of broadcasting deals and sponsorship revenue 
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A single group stage followed by a knockout phase could be interesting, but it's hard to say if it would really level the playing field for smaller leagues... 
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. It's not like it's all sunshine and rainbows - there's definitely some risks involved, but also some potential benefits that could come from it 
. Its a great way to bring people together and create some amazing matches. But at the same time, I get what Maksims is saying - its tough for smaller countries like Latvia to compete with the big leagues when they're missing out on broadcasting deals and sponsorship revenue 
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. I mean, if you have teams from different countries competing together, that can be tough logistically and financially 
️. Like, imagine a cross-border esports league where teams from different countries compete together 
. That could be huge 
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. It's definitely a thought-provoking concept that could have a big impact on the sports world 
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And what about broadcasting deals and sponsorship revenue like Krivunecs mentioned? It sounds like a lot of work for not that much gain.
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