La Liga’s potential first-ever league game abroad
scheduled for Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, pending UEFA and FIFA approval.
Madrid, Spain — The Spanish Football Federation
(RFEF) has approved plans for Villarreal and Barcelona’s La Liga fixture to be
played in Miami, USA, potentially making it the first European league match
held outside Europe. The proposed game at Hard Rock Stadium awaits final
approval from UEFA and FIFA ahead of its scheduled December 2025 date.
In a groundbreaking development for European
football, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has granted approval for
Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to take their La Liga encounter overseas to the
United States. The match, originally slated for December 21, 2025, at
Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica, could be relocated to the Hard Rock
Stadium in Miami on December 20.
This initiative marks a historic attempt to stage a
top-flight European domestic league match outside the continent, with the RFEF
now preparing to seek the crucial green light from UEFA and FIFA. The Hard Rock
Stadium, notable for hosting seven fixtures during the 2026 World Cup, would be
the venue, adding prestige and global visibility to the event.
Despite the excitement around the prospect, the
proposal has ignited strong opposition from fans’ organizations. The Spanish
football supporters’ association FASFE, alongside fan groups from Barcelona and
Villarreal, has vocally condemned the plan. They have jointly demanded that the
RFEF and Spain’s national sports council intervene to halt the move, describing
it as “absolute, total and firm opposition.”
In a united statement, these groups warned of
possible legal actions if the match proceeds as planned, reflecting the
deep-rooted fan loyalty to traditional football venues and concerns about
commercializing the sport at the expense of its heritage.
While the idea of staging domestic league matches
abroad is relatively new and controversial, it is not entirely unprecedented.
The Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup have been held overseas in recent
years, attracting global audiences. Additionally, AC Milan has proposed
relocating a Serie A match to Perth, Australia, though that plan remains
contingent on approvals from FIFA, UEFA, Football Australia, and the Asian
Football Confederation.
FIFA’s current regulations prohibit domestic league
matches from being played abroad, but a working group was established last year
to explore potential policy changes. This evolving landscape sets the stage for
La Liga’s ambitious proposal.
Historically, La Liga has flirted with the idea of
exporting marquee matches internationally. In 2019, plans for Barcelona to face
Girona in Miami were scrapped following resistance from the RFEF and player
unions. Similarly, last year’s proposal for Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid in
Miami was abandoned due to time constraints.
Meanwhile, England’s Premier League has
consistently dismissed overseas fixture plans. Former chief executive Richard
Scudamore’s 2008 suggestion of staging additional rounds abroad met fan and
media backlash and was ultimately shelved.
As the RFEF seeks UEFA and FIFA consent, the
football world watches closely. The outcome could redefine how European leagues
approach global markets and fan engagement, but it also raises critical
questions about the balance between commercial interests and football
traditions.
The scheduled December date places this match as a
potential landmark event that may pave the way for similar moves in other major
leagues, signaling a shift in football’s global strategy.