Barcelona–Villarreal Match Set for Miami Pending Final U.S. Approval.

Roger Hampel

Image: LaLiga

According to ESPN, LaLiga president Javier Tebas confirmed that the league plans to proceed with holding the Barcelona vs. Villarreal fixture on December 20, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The match, which would mark the first official domestic league fixture from one of Europe’s top five leagues to be staged abroad, is pending final approval from U.S. soccer authorities.

UEFA Approval and Next Steps Barcelona Miami

As reported by ESPN, UEFA earlier this week gave conditional approval for two league matches to be played outside Europe: the Barcelona–Villarreal match in Miami and an Italian Serie A fixture between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia.

UEFA emphasized that while it remains opposed to domestic league games being relocated abroad, the current FIFA regulatory framework does not explicitly prohibit such arrangements. The organization stated it would work with FIFA to revise these regulations to preserve “the integrity of domestic competitions and the bond between clubs, supporters, and local communities.”

LaLiga must now obtain authorization from U.S. Soccer and Concacaf, with FIFA reportedly having no role in the decision-making process, ESPN noted. There is currently no specific timeline for when the final approval will be granted.

Logistical Considerations

Villarreal was originally scheduled to host the fixture at the Estadio de la Cerámica, but under LaLiga’s proposal, the match would move to the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins.

According to ESPN, logistical challenges remain due to a potential scheduling conflict — the Dolphins are set to play the Cincinnati Bengals on December 21, one day after the proposed football match. Stadium reconfiguration between the two events would be complex but, according to ESPN sources, technically feasible.

Opposition and Context

Despite UEFA’s approval, opposition persists in Spain. ESPN reported that the Spanish Players’ Association (AFE) and several LaLiga clubs, including Real Madrid, have voiced objections, arguing that staging the match abroad would “distort” the competition. While these objections cannot immediately prevent the match from being played in the United States, they could lead to further legal appeals, potentially to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had previously blocked similar attempts by LaLiga to host games in the U.S. since 2017. However, the RFEF formally approved the proposal in January 2025, opening the door for this latest initiative.

Strategic and Commercial Implications

For LaLiga, the Miami match represents a significant step in its long-term strategy to increase global visibility and expand its brand presence in North America. The league has been pursuing international match opportunities for nearly a decade, seeking to replicate models established by American leagues such as the NFL and NBA, both of which host regular-season games abroad.