Two of the main professional football leagues, the XFL and the USFL, are reportedly in talks to merge, sources close to the negotiation reported to Axios. The operation is expected to close this week.

Neither of the two - considered minor leagues - belongs to the National Football League (NFL) and this operation would serve to try to compete with the top football competition in the United States and grow their audience and followers .

If confirmed, this new competition that would arise from the merger could begin before the 2024 season. The talks are being held by Fox Corp. as owner of the USFL; and actor Dwayne The Rock Johnson, his ex-wife Dany García and the company RedBird Capital Partners as owners of the XFL.

Sources commented that the broadcasts of the games would be shared between Fox and Disney. The latter has the media rights to the XFL.