LaLiga Eyes Miami Match: A Step Closer to Transatlantic Football

Spanish football may soon expand its reach across the Atlantic as the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has provisionally sanctioned a request for FC Barcelona and Villarreal to contest their LaLiga fixture in Miami this December. This initiative has been in development for nearly a decade.

On Monday, the RFEF board approved the proposal to host the matchday 17 game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20. This marks a significant initial stride toward staging an official league game abroad for the first time.

The proposition now awaits review by UEFA, European football’s regulatory body, before securing the final endorsement from FIFA, which represents the last major obstacle to LaLiga President Javier Tebas’ vision for expansion into the American market.

RFEF stated that during their meeting on August 11, 2025, the Board of Directors received a formal request from Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to conduct their match corresponding to matchday 17 of the top-tier league in the United States.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation will present the request to UEFA to initiate the procedure for eventual clearance by FIFA, intending for the match to be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20, 2025.

LaLiga’s pursuit of a transatlantic presence spans almost ten years, reflecting strategies employed by the NFL and NBA to cultivate international markets.

Tebas’ initial endeavor involved a planned Girona-Barcelona game in the U.S. during the 2018-19 season, but it did not materialize.

Similarly, a proposed Villarreal-Atletico match for 2019-20 was abandoned, leading to legal disputes after the RFEF withheld approval.

The courts ultimately sided with the Spanish Federation, then led by Luis Rubiales, who was later dismissed in 2023 for kissing player Jenni Hermoso during the celebration of Spain’s victory at the Women’s World Cup in Sydney.

Last season also saw a near agreement, with a Barcelona-Atletico game nearly taking place before LaLiga postponed it to refine the project’s structure.

Now, with regulatory hurdles overcome and internal disagreements settled, the Villarreal-Barcelona showdown is poised to finally realize Spanish football’s long-anticipated venture onto American soil.