On Monday, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) gave its stamp of approval to LaLiga’s proposal to play a regular season match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. The match, originally scheduled for December 21 at Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal, now moves to European governing body UEFA and world governing body FIFA for final authorization steps. If approved, this would be the first-ever European fixture to be played in the United States.
LaLiga President Javier Tebas has been pushing for this move for years, arguing that it would help the Spanish league stay competitive in a European landscape where the English Premier League continues to earn more and more money, leaving other leagues behind. Tebas believes that having an official match in the US would strengthen their position in the North American market and help them keep up with other competitive leagues.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has expressed his excitement about the opportunity to play overseas and agrees that promoting the league worldwide is important. Villarreal president Fernando Roig also supports the idea, calling it a “great idea” for the good of football, of Villarreal, and of LaLiga.
Financially, the move is significant for both clubs, with each expected to receive between €5 million ($5.85 million) and €6 million (about $7 million) for the match in Miami. Villarreal would receive slightly more to compensate for the loss of ticketing revenue for giving up a home match.
In a similar move, the Italian Football Federation has approved a regular season league match between AC Milan and Como to be played in Australia in February 2026, though the fixture is also pending official sign-off.
As the proposal moves to UEFA and FIFA for final approval, the potential of this groundbreaking game could mark a new era for European football, expanding its reach and influence across the globe.
