Wales captain Gareth Bale says his move to Major League Soccer can help him prolong his international career beyond this year's World Cup.
Bale, 32, was introduced to his new Los Angeles FC teammates and supporters at Banc of California Stadium on Saturday as his new side beat LA Galaxy to stay top of the Western Conference.
The former Tottenham and Real Madrid forward has signed a 12-month contract , but Bale said he was hoping for a much longer stay, saying he has "many years to come".
"I haven't come here just to be here for six months, 12 months," Bale said. "I've come here to try and be here as long as possible."
While many see the migration of European players to the MLS as a stopover on the way to retirement, Bale indicated he hopes for an extended stay in the US.
"I want to do as well as I can and I want to try and make my mark on this league, on this team," the five-time Champions League winner said. "I'm looking forward to the future. It's not just a short thing."
Bale, who turns 33 on Saturday, sees MLS as his best path to playing for Wales beyond this year's Qatar World Cup, the nation's first global finals appearance since 1958 .
His goal is playing in Euro 2024 and he has an eye on the 2026 World Cup that will be co-hosted by the United States with Mexico and Canada.
Gareth Bale celebrates scoring for Real Madrid in their Champions League final win over Liverpool in 2018. Reuters
Gareth Bale scores a spectacular overhead kick for Real Madrid against Liverpool in the 2018 Champions League final in Kiev. Getty
Gareth Bale kisses the Champions League trophy after beating Liverpool in 2018.
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale collects his medal after he was an unused substitute in their 2022 Champions League final win over Liverpool at Stade de France in Paris. PA
Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring on his Real Madrid debut against Villarreal in 2013. AP
Gareth Bale of Real Madrid lifts the Champions League trophy after his side beat Juventus 4-1 in the final in Cardiff in 2017. Getty
Gareth Bale celebrates after scorng his second goal during the Champions League final win over Liverpool in 2018. AFP
Gareth Bale after Real Madrid's Champions League final win over Liverpool on May 28, 2022. Getty
Gareth Bale celebrates scoring his third goal against Kashima Antlers in the 2018 Fifa Club World Cup semi final at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale, left, shakes hands with manager Santiago Solari after scoring a hat-trick in their 3-1 win over Kashima Antlers at 2018 Fifa Club World Cup. Reuters
Gareth Bale scores for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League in 2014. AFP
Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring Real's opening goal in their La Liga match against Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2015. Getty
Gareth Bale scores for Real Madrid against Kashima Antlers in the 2018 Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi. Chris Whiteoak / The National
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates scoring their second goal against Kashima Antlers in Abu Dhabi at the 2018 Fifa Club World Cup. Reuters
Real Madrid's Gareth Bale celebrates scoring a goal with Marco Asensio. Reuters
Gareth Bale has ended his nine-year stay at Real Madrid. Wolfgang Rattay / Reuters
Gareth Bale celebrates scoring for Real in the Champions League match against Legia Warszawa in 2016. Getty
Gareth Bale celebrates Real Madrid scoring in the Champions League semi-final, second leg against Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu on May 4, 2016. Getty
Gareth Bale celebrates with Real Madrid teammates after beating Sevilla in the Uefa Super Cup in Cardiff in 2014. EPA
Gareth Bale with Real Madrid president Florentino Perez after completing his move to Spain. AP
"It also gives me the best opportunity to keep going into the next Euros, maybe further, so my plan is to really work hard," Bale said. "We've got a great plan going forward to get me up to speed and hopefully last as long as possible.
"Being here gives me the best possible chance to get to the Euros — and maybe even one more. That's my goal. I feel like I'm here to play a big part."
Bale left Spanish giants Real Madrid last month following the expiration of his contract, collecting 19 trophies during his nine years at the Bernabeu.
He said he hopes to haul in some hardware for LAFC after his first workouts with new teammates.
"My first training session today was amazing, the first step in hopefully a long journey," Bale said.
"I had been eager to get going. I need to get some training under my belt to be ready. The players were really welcoming and hopefully I can help them all."
75 notable summer transfers Perr Schuurs - Ajax to Torino (£8m). AFP
Paco Alcacer - Villarreal to Sharjah (loan). Getty Images
Matheus Nunes - Sporting to Wolves (£38m). AFP
Tanguy Nianzou - Bayern Munich to Sevilla (£16.9m). AFP
Alan Virginius - Sochaux to Lille (£3.8m). AFP
Thilo Kehrer - PSG to West Ham (£10.1m). Getty Images
Pervis Estupinan - Villarreal to Brighton (£15.1m). Getty Images
Destiny Udogie - Udinese to Tottenham (£15.1m). Loaned back to Udinese. Reuters
Sergio Gomez - Anderlecht to Manchester City (£11m). Photo: Manchester City
Alex Collado - Barcelona to Elche (loan). AFP
Remo Freuler - Atalanta to Nottingham Forest (£9m). AP
Marc Bartra - Real Betis to Tranbzonspor (undisclosed fee). Getty Images
Giovani Lo Celso - Tottenham to Villarreal (loan). Getty Images
Cheikhou Kouyate - Crystal Palace to Nottingham Forest (free). Getty Images
Emmanuel Dennis - Watford to Nottingham Forest (£20m). Getty Images
Nico González - Barcelona to Valencia (loan). AP Photo
Luca Pellegrini - Juventus to Eintracht Frankfurt (loan). AFP
Daniel Wass - Atletico Madrid to Brondby (£1.7m). EPA
Pablo Marí - Arsenal to Monza (loan). AP
Dries Mertens - Napoli to Galatasaray (free). AFP
Jordan Veretout - Roma to Marseille (£9.3m). Reuters
Christian Benteke - Crystal Palace to DC United (undisclosed fee). AFP
Maxwell Cornet - West Ham United to Burnley (£17.5m). PA
Georginio Wijnaldum - PSG to Roma (loan). AFP
Lucas Torreira - Arsenal to Galatasaray (£5m). AFP
Marc Cucurella - Brighton to Chelsea (£55m). Getty Images
Ademola Lookman - RB Leipzig to Atalanta (£12.6m). PA via AP
Renato Sanches - Lille to Paris Saint-Germain (£12.6m). AFP
Riqui Puig - Barcelona to LA Galaxy (free). AP Photo
Alex Telles - Manchester United to Sevilla (loan). AFP
Carney Chukwuemeka - Aston Villa to Chelsea (£20m). Reuters
Kasper Schmeichel - Leicester City to Nice (£1m). AFP
Mattia Viti - Empoli to Nice (£10.9m). AFP
Gabriel Slonina - Chicago Fire to Chelsea (£8.3m). Reuters
Bernd Leno - Arsenal to Fulham (£3m). AFP
Charles De Ketelaere - Club Brugge to AC Milan (£26.8m). AFP
Joe Rodon - Tottenham to Stade Rennais (loan). AFP
Borja Mayoral - Real Madrid to Getafe (£8.4m). EPA
Cesc Fabregas - Monaco to Como (free). EPA
Alexis Beka Beaka - Lokomotiv Moscow to Nice (£11.7m). AFP
Marcus Tavernier -Middlesbrough to Bournemouth (£10m). Getty Images
Aaron Ramsey - Juventus to Nice (free). AFP
Orel Mangala - Stuttgart to Nottingham Forest (£12.7m). AFP
David Raum - Hoffenheim to RB Leipzig (£21.8m). Getty Images
Oscar Mingueza - Barcelona to Celta Vigo (£2.5m). Getty Images
Jules Kounde - Sevilla to Barcelona (£45m). AFP
Dwight McNeil - Burnley to Everton (£20m). Getty Images
Arnaud Kalimuendo - PSG to Rennes (£21m). Getty Images
Filip Kostic - Eintracht Frankfurt to Juventus (£14.4m). EPA
Salvatore Sirigu - Genoa to Napoli (free). Reuters
Mikkel Damsgaard - Sampdoria to Brentford (£12.7m). EPA
Malang Sarr - Chelsea to Monaco (loan). AFP
Issa Diop - West Ham United to Fulham (£15m). Getty Images
Alexis Sanchez - Internazionale to Marseille (free). Getty Images
Timo Werner - Chelsea to RB Leipzig (£18m). AP
Amadou Onana - Llle to Everton (£33.8m). AFP
Emirhan Ilkhan - Besiktas to Torino (£3.8m). PA
Gonçalo Guedes - Valencia to Wolves (£27.5m). AP Photo
Conor Coady - Wolves to Everton (loan). Getty Images
Anthony Modeste - Cologne to Borussia Dortmund (£3.8m). EPA
Angeliño - RB Leipzig to Hoffenheim (loan). Getty Images
Marcos Senesi - Feyenoord to Bournemouth (£12.6m). AFP
Isco - Real Madrid to Sevilla (free). EPA
Raheem Sterling - Manchester City to Chelsea (£50m). Getty Images
Lisandro Martinez - Ajax to Manchester United (£46m). Getty Images
Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich to Barcelona (£38.3m). AFP
Hugo Ekitike - Reims to Paris Saint-Germain (loan). AFP
Thomas Henry - Venezia to Verona (£3.8m). Getty Images
Takefusa Kubo - Real Madrid to Real Sociedad (£5.2m). Getty Images
Kalidou Koulibaly - Napoli to Chelsea (£33.8m). EPA
Chancel Mbemba - Porto to Marseille (free). EPA
Breel Embolo - Borussa Monchengladbach to Monaco (£10.6m). EPA
Christian Eriksen - Brentford to Manchester United (free). PA
Raphinha - Leeds United to Barcelona (£49m). Getty Images
Federico Bernardeschi - Juventus to Toronto FC (free). Getty Images
Andrea Cambiaso - Genoa to Juventus (£5.9m). Getty Images
Arturo Vidal - Inter Milan to Flamengo (free). Getty Images
Mohamed Bayo - Clermont to Lille (£11.8m). AFP
Francisco Trincao - Barcelona to Sporting (loan). Getty Images
Samu Castillejo - AC Milan to Valencia (undisclosed fee). PA
Lewis Ferguson - Aberdeen to Bologna (£3m). PA
Keane Lewis-Potter - Hull City to Brentford (£16m). PA
Alessio Romagnoli - AC Milan to Lazio (free). Getty Images
Nathan Collins - Burnley to Wolves (£20.5m). PA
Andriy Yarmolenko - West Ham United to Al Ain (free). AP Photo
David Ospina - Napoli to Al Nassr (free). Getty Images
Kristian Thorstvedt - Genk to Sassuolo (£8.4m). Reuters
Andreas Pereira -Manchester United to Fulham ( £10m). Getty Images
Gabriel Jesus - Manchester City to Arsenal (£45m). Getty Images
Steven Bergwijn - Tottenham Hotspur to Ajax (£26.5m). AP Photo
Andreas Christensen - Chelsea to Barcelona (free). AFP
Sébastien Haller - Ajax to Borussia Dortmund (£30.8m). AFP
Flynn Downes - Swansea City to West Ham United (£12m). PA
Junior Messias - Crotone to AC Milan (£3.8m). Reuters
Luis Sinisterra - Feyenoord to Leeds United (£21.3m). AFP
Brais Méndez - Celta Vigo to Real Sociedad (£12.8m). Getty Images
Moussa Niakhaté - Mainz to Nottingham Forest (£8.7m). Getty Images
Romeo Lavia - Manchester City to Southmpton (£12m). AP Photo
Tyler Adams - RB Leipzig to Leeds United (£20m). AP
Axel Witsel - Borussia Dortmund to Atletico Madrid (free). EPA
Maya Yoshida - Sampdoria to Schalke (free). AP Photo
Tyrell Malacia - Feyenoord to Manchester United (£12.9m). AP Photo
Zeki Celik - Lille to Roma (£6m). AFP
Ritsu Doan - PSV Eindhoven to Freiburg (£6.5m). AFP
Divock Origi - Liverpool to AC Milan (free). AFP
Rolando Mandragora - Torino to Fiorentina (£7m). EPA
Joao Palhinha - Sporting to Fulham (£17m). Getty Images
Franck Kessie - AC Milan to Barcelona (free). Getty Images
Trezeguet - Aston Villa to Trabzonspor (£3.4m). AFP
Kalvin Phillips - Leeds United to Manchester City (£45m). Reuters
Giulian Biancone - Troyes to Nottingham Forest (£5m). AFP
Giuliano Simeone - Atletico Madrid to Real Zaragoza (loan). EPA
Raoul Bellanova - Cagliari to Inter Milan (loan). Getty Images
Richarlison - Everton to Tottenham (£50 million). PA
Fabio Carvalho - Fulham to Liverpool (£5 million). PA
James Tarkowski Burnley to Everton (free). Getty Images
Sime Vrsaljko - Atletico Madrid to Olympiakos (free). AP Photo
Dean Henderson - Manchester United to Nottingham Forest (loan). PA
Luuk de Jong - Sevilla to PSV Eindhoven (£3.4m). AP Photo
Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Roma to Inter Milan (free). Reuters
Cenk Tosun - Everton to Besiktas (free). Reuters
Andre Onana - Ajax to Inter Milan (free). Getty
Moussa Sissoko - Watford to Nantes (£2m). AFP
Corentin Tolisso - Bayern Munich to Lyon (free). AFP
Vitinha - Porto to Paris Saint-Germain (£34m). AFP
Romelu Lukaku - Chelsea to Inter Milan (loan). PA
Lorenzo Insigne - Napoli to Toronto FC (free). AP
Sven Botman - Lille to Newcastle United (£31.9m). AFP
Takumi Minamino - Liverpool to Monaco (£15.5m). Getty Images
Alphonse Areola - Paris Saint-Germain to West Ham United (£7.8m). AFP
Lucas Leiva - Lazio to Gremo (free). Getty Images
Joselu - Alaves to Espanyol (free). Getty Images
Matt Turner - New England Revolution to Arsenal (£4.7m). Reuters
Fernandinho - Manchester City to Athletico Paranaense (free). PA
Bartol Franjic - Dinamo Zagreb to Wolfsburg (£6.9m). Getty Images
Wahbi Khazri - Saint-Etienne to Montpellier (free). AFP
Tobias Figueiredo - Hull City to Nottingham Forest (free). PA
Pietro Pellegri - Monaco to Tornio (£3.9m). Getty Images
Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City. Getty Images
Malcolm Ebiowei - Derby County to Crystal Palace (undisclosed). PA
Taiwo Awoniyi - Union Berlin to Nottingham Forest (£17m). Getty Images
Gareth Bale - Real Madrid to Los Angeles FC (free). PA
Lucas Alario - Bayer Leverkusen to Eintracht Frankfurt (£5.6m). PA
Sadio Mane - Liverpool to Bayern Munich (£28m). Getty Images
Armindo Sieb - Bayern Munich to Greuther Fürth (undisclosed fee). Getty Images
Nick Pope - Burnley to Newcastle (£10m). PA
Ki-Jana Hoever - Wolves to PSV Eindhoven (loan). PA
Ryan Fredericks - West Ham United to Bournemouth (free). Getty Images
Mario Götze - PSV Eindhoven to Eintracht Frankfurt (£3.4m). Getty Images
Fabio Vieira - Porto to Arsenal (£30m). EPA
Antonio Rudiger - Chelsea to Real Madrid (free). PA
Merih Demiral - Juventus to Atalanta (£17.2m). AFP
Giovanni Simeone - Cagliari to Hellas Verona (£10.3m). AP
Marc Roca - Bayern Munich to Leeds United (£10m). PA
Yves Bissouma - Brighton to Tottenham (£25m). PA
Gavin Bazunu - Manchester City to Southampton (£12m). PA
Darwin Nunez - Benfica to Liverpool (£64.3m). PA
Aurelien Tchouameni - Monaco to Real Madrid (£85.3m). AFP
Nemanja Matic - Manchester United to Roma (free). EPA
Ryan Gravenberch - Ajax to Bayern Munich (£20m). EPA
Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus to Los Angeles FC (released). Getty Images
Cameron Carter-Vickers - Tottenham to Celtic (£6m). AFP
Alexandre Lacazette - Arsenal to Lyon (free transfer). AFP
Updated: July 12, 2022, 3:44 AM