Jul 29, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; FC Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski (9) controls the ball as Real Madrid defender Eder Militao (3) defends during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

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Spanish FA Approves Historic Plans for Villarreal vs Barcelona La Liga Clash in USA

Villarreal’s La Liga showdown with Barcelona in December could make history as the first European domestic league fixture to be played abroad. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) approved plans to stage the match in the United States. The proposal will now be sent to UEFA for review before seeking FIFA’s final authorisation.

If passed, the game would be played in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, a FIFA World Cup 2026 venue. If the match goes ahead in USA, it would mark a major milestone in La Liga’s long-standing ambition to expand its footprint in the US market. The match was originally scheduled for 21 December at Villarreal’s home stadium Estadio de la Ceramica.

🚨 As per reports, the Spanish Federation has approved for La Liga match between Villarreal & Barcelona to be played in Miami, USA.

Real Madrid's main title rival will get to play one of the toughest away matches in a neutral location. pic.twitter.com/IlZVnCsQIf
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 11, 2025

Spanish Football Supporters’ Association FASFE Express Opposition

While RFEF president Rafael Louzan has signalled strong backing for the move, the plan has drawn fierce criticism from Spanish supporters’ groups, including Barcelona and Villarreal fans. In a joint statement, they called on the RFEF and the national sports council to “stop this madness” and warned they would take legal action if the match goes ahead in the US.

Moving the La Liga match to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium could mean a date change. Notably, the stadium is home of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins are scheduled to play the Cincinnati Bengals there on the same day.

Also Read: PSG vs Tottenham Hotspur: Everything You Need to Know About the UEFA Super Cup

La Liga president Javier Tebas has been pushing to take league fixtures overseas for years, with previous Miami proposals in 2019 and 2024 failing amid opposition from FIFA, UEFA and RFEF’s former leadership. The concept is gaining traction globally, with leagues like Serie A exploring similar ventures. Italian giants AC Milan are in talks to play Como in Australia.

Even though FIFA’s current rules prohibit domestic league matches to be played abroad without exceptional approval. If sanctioned, Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami would join the likes of Spain’s Supercopa and Italy’s Super Cup. Notably, finals of both the Supercopa de España and Supercoppa Italiana took place in Saudi Arabia last year.

Barcelona

FIFA

Hard Rock Stadium

Javier Tebas

La Liga

La Liga 2025-26

RFEF

UEFA

USA

Villarreal

Abhinav Goel

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I am a soccer writer at The PlayOffs, covering everything from match analysis to transfer buzz and tactical deep dives. Ever since I was a kid, soccer has been more than just a sport to me—it’s been an obsession. Playing and watching the game from a young age fueled my passion, eventually leading me into the world of sports media and betting. Now, I get to analyze the sport I love and bring the latest updates to fans worldwide.