Spain’s football federation (RFEF) has officially approved a landmark proposal to host a La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami—marking a potential first for a European league game in the United States this season .
The fixture, originally scheduled to be played on December 21 at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, is now proposed to take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20, 2025 . Following RFEF’s green light, the request will be forwarded to UEFA, then to CONCACAF and the U.S. Soccer Federation, with FIFA informed as part of established procedure .
This development is the culmination of multiple unsuccessful attempts over recent years—including a derailed plan in 2018 for a Girona–Barcelona fixture and another in late 2024 involving Barcelona vs. Atlético Madrid . Now, with institutional alignment and legal hurdles cleared, La Liga edges closer to exporting its regular-season action overseas—ushering in a new era for its international expansion .
La Liga’s leadership, under Javier Tebas, views this as a strategic move to broaden the league’s footprint and commercial outreach—now potentially on the cusp of fruition.
