LaLiga confirms historic Barça league game in U.S.
LaLiga has confirmed that Barcelona’s LaLiga fixture against Villarreal will be held on December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, marking the first-ever match from one of Europe’s top five leagues to be played outside the continent. The move follows UEFA’s reluctant approval earlier this week, allowing the Spanish league to take a historic step in expanding its global reach.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas described the match as a “historic step” for Spanish football, emphasizing the opportunity to bring the league closer to millions of international supporters. The fixture, originally scheduled to be played at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, will now be staged in the United States with compensation measures agreed for Villarreal season-ticket holders affected by the relocation. Villarreal president Fernando Roig acknowledged the impact but expressed confidence in the event’s potential success.
The decision comes after UEFA granted similar permission for an Italian Serie A match between AC Milan and Como to be staged in Perth, Australia. UEFA, while opposed to domestic league games being played abroad, cited insufficient regulatory clarity in FIFA’s framework to outright deny the requests. FIFA is currently reviewing these regulations with input from UEFA to safeguard the integrity of domestic competitions.
The U.S. Soccer Federation has approved the Miami venue, with Concacaf’s consent still pending. Key stakeholders in North American football will be consulted before final approval is granted.
The move has sparked criticism from the Spanish players’ association (AFE), which argued that playing league games outside Spain raises sporting and workers’ rights concerns, and called for consensus among all football stakeholders. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong publicly opposed the relocation, highlighting concerns about travel demands and competitive fairness. Real Madrid and other Spanish clubs have voiced similar opposition, viewing the decision as disruptive to the league’s integrity.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta welcomed the opportunity, highlighting Miami’s strong Barça community and the club’s long-standing ties to the U.S. market. The match is viewed as a strategic effort to strengthen the club’s international fanbase.
This initiative represents LaLiga’s broader ambition to emulate other major sports leagues, such as the NFL and NBA, by staging marquee games in international markets. Although logistical challenges exist—Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium will host an NFL game the following day—sources confirm the stadium can accommodate the quick turnaround needed for both events.
The Miami fixture marks a significant development in European football’s global expansion strategy, underscoring the balance between commercial interests and maintaining competition integrity. How this precedent influences future domestic league fixtures remains to be seen, pending ongoing regulatory reviews led by FIFA and UEFA.