Villarreal and Barcelona will meet at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium in December if UEFA and FIFA approve a request from the Spanish FA, which approved plans for the potential history-making game on Monday.
The LaLiga match had been scheduled for the matchweek of December 21 at Villarreal but is now on the brink of becoming the first European top-flight league fixture to take place in the US.
The potential for league games to be played abroad has increased because Fifa was dropped from a landmark lawsuit by US events promoter Relevent in April 2024, according to The Athletic.
Relevent, which was founded by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, argued that a FIFA directive, issued in 2018 and guiding that domestic games should be played in their home territory, acted as a monopoly and prevented fair competition.
FIFA and Relevent are said to have settled on their case without prejudice, meaning Relevent reserve the right to reopen their litigation should FIFA not make a satisfactory reconsideration of their position.
Why would a LaLiga game be held in Miami?
LaLiga has long advanced plans to play a game overseas, including one between Barca and Girona in January 2019, when the idea was scrapped because the RFEF and players’ union (AFE) opposed it.
In 2024, LaLiga president Javier Tebas said a game abroad was an inevitability. The RFEF has held the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia since 2020, with Barcelona perennial.
The US is a potentially huge market for European leagues, with the United States Soccer Federation said to be receptive to the idea.
Will a Premier League game be held abroad?
An extra “international round” of Premier League fixtures abroad was discussed in 2008 but dropped because of fan and FIFA opposition.
NBC, who broadcast the Premier League live in the US, are keen to hold English games there, while Liverpool and Boston Red Sox chairman Tom Werner told the Financial Times (via Guardian) in 2024 that he wanted to see matches in the division held in New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Riyadh and Rio de Janeiro.
The Guardian report added that the UK government is supportive of plans to add provisions to the football governance bill preventing the Premier League and EFL from holding competitive matches abroad.
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When does Barcelona’s 2025/26 LaLiga season start?
Barca start their season at Mallorca, who finished 10th last season, on Saturday, August 16 at 16:30 BST (11:30 ET / 08:30 PT).
“What we hope for this season is success on the field,” Barcelona president Joan Laporta told the club website on Monday.
“We will compete and I am convinced, that with all our strength, in all the competitions we are playing in, I believe we are candidates to win.
“We hope that the Barca fans enjoy themselves with Hansi Flick’s team and there is that joy for them that we always want.
“This season, as I see the team, it’s very united and solid with very talented players and I think we will have some unforgettable moments.”
The first instalment of El Classico in 2025/26 will be on Matchweek 10 in late October, when Barca travel to Real Madrid.
