The Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match in December could make football history as the first-ever European league fixture played outside of Europe. This follows the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) approving a proposal to host the game in the United States.
The RFEF plans to ask both Fifa and Uefa for permission to move the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida. This venue is already set to host seven matches during the 2026 World Cup and has a history of staging major sporting events.
Right now, the fixture is set for Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica on 21 December 2025. If approved, the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match would be played a day earlier, on 20 December, at the Hard Rock Stadium.
In its official statement, the RFEF said:
“At its meeting on 11 August 2025, the RFEF board of directors received a request from Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to play their match on matchday 17 of the first division in the United States. The Royal Spanish Football Federation will submit the request to Uefa to begin the process for subsequent authorisation by Fifa for the match to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 20 December 2025.”
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Fan Groups Strongly Oppose the Move
While the idea of the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match excites some international football fans, local supporters are far from happy. The Spanish football supporters’ association FASFE has teamed up with Barcelona and Villarreal fan groups to express their “absolute, total and firm opposition” to the plan.
They have called on the RFEF and Spain’s national sports council to “stop this madness” and even threatened legal action to block the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match. For these fans, home league games should stay in Spain to protect traditions and ensure accessibility for loyal match-going supporters.
Critics argue that holding the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match overseas puts commercial gains ahead of fans’ interests. Similar resistance has been seen in other countries whenever league organisers suggested taking competitive matches abroad.
Other Leagues and Past Attempts to Take Games Abroad
Playing football matches abroad isn’t new, but it’s usually reserved for special competitions. Tournaments like the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup have been held overseas, including in Saudi Arabia, China, and the USA. However, the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match would be different as it is a regular league game.
In Italy, AC Milan are considering taking their Serie A fixture against Como to Perth, Australia, in February 2026 because the San Siro will host the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. But like the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match, it still needs approval from Fifa, Uefa, and other football bodies.
Currently, Fifa’s rules do not allow domestic league matches to be played abroad. However, last year Fifa formed a working group to review this policy. If the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match goes ahead, it could set a new precedent for future games.
La Liga has tried before to take games overseas. In 2019, Barcelona planned to face Girona in Miami, but opposition from the RFEF and players’ union ended the idea. More recently, La Liga wanted to host Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid in Miami, but dropped the plan due to tight scheduling. The Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match is now the latest attempt to make this happen.
In England, the Premier League once considered taking matches abroad. In 2008, former chief executive Richard Scudamore suggested a “39th game” to be played internationally. However, strong backlash from fans, the media, and football officials forced the league to drop the idea. The Premier League has since confirmed it has no plans to move competitive matches overseas.
What Happens Next?
For the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match to take place, the plan must go through several steps. Uefa must approve it first, followed by Fifa granting the final go-ahead. This process could take weeks or months, depending on how quickly each organisation acts and whether fan opposition has any influence.
If approved, the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match will become a historic milestone, the first European league game played in another continent. It would also encourage other leagues to explore similar opportunities, especially with football’s popularity growing worldwide.
However, if rejected, the Villarreal vs Barcelona Miami Match will join the list of failed attempts to stage league games abroad. Until a decision is made, football fans everywhere will be watching closely to see if Villarreal and Barcelona succeed in bringing this bold plan to life.
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