LaLiga Makes History: Barcelona and Villarreal to Play Official League Match in Miami

Barcelona vs Villarreal to Be Played in Miami on December 20: A Historic First for LaLiga

LaLiga has confirmed that the league fixture between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF will be played on December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, marking the first time a top-flight European domestic league match will take place outside Europe.

The announcement follows UEFA’s reluctant approval of the move earlier this week. LaLiga president Javier Tebas, speaking at the World Soccer Summit in Miami, stated that plans are “practically finalized.”

Originally scheduled to be hosted by Villarreal at Estadio de la Cerámica, the match is now being promoted as a major global outreach effort by LaLiga, modeled after international fixtures in the NFL and NBA. Tebas described the move as a “historic step” to grow Spanish football globally, adding that it will not compromise fans in Spain as it is just “one game out of 380” in the season.

Approvals & Logistics

• The U.S. Soccer Federation has reportedly approved the game.

• Concacaf has received the request and is conducting a formal review before giving final clearance.

• There is no set timeline for when a final decision will be made.

• The game is scheduled a day before the NFL’s Miami Dolphins host the Bengals at the same stadium, creating tight turnaround demands — though logistics teams say the transition is feasible.

Stakeholder Reactions

• Villarreal acknowledged the disruption to season-ticket holders and announced compensation measures.

• Barcelona president Joan Laporta welcomed the opportunity to strengthen ties with U.S.-based fans, citing Miami as a key market with a large Barça following.

• The Spanish Players’ Association (AFE) opposed the decision, arguing it affects sporting integrity and player rights. AFE has scheduled a meeting with LaLiga, Barcelona, and Villarreal.

Wider Opposition

• Real Madrid and several LaLiga clubs have expressed dissatisfaction, calling the move a distortion of the competition.

• Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong also criticized the change, calling it unfair and physically taxing for players.

Regulatory Landscape

UEFA maintains its opposition to domestic matches being played abroad, citing the need to protect the connection between clubs and their local communities. However, due to gaps in FIFA’s regulatory framework, it could not block the move. Both FIFA and UEFA are now reviewing those rules to tighten regulations and prevent similar cases in the future.