FC Villarreal subscribers to receive complimentary travel for match against Barcelona in Miami, as confirmed by Fernando Roig
Villarreal to Play First European La Liga Match in Miami
Fernando Roig, the president of Villarreal, has announced that the upcoming La Liga match against FC Barcelona, scheduled for December 20–21, 2025, will be held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, marking a significant milestone for both clubs and football in the United States.
This decision, which could potentially make Villarreal the first European team to play a top league match competitively outside Europe, has been in the works since 2019. The Miami venue, renowned for hosting major events such as the Copa América 2024 final and a 2026 World Cup stadium, has been chosen for this historic event.
Roig emphasized the opportunity this presents for the club, stating, "Reaching the United States is a significant milestone for Villarreal. This is an opportunity to promote Spanish football and take advantage of this unique opportunity." He also expressed a desire to create more football schools in the United States, with twelve already run by Villarreal.
The economic aspects of playing the match in Miami will be used to expand the brand and attract future market opportunities. Season ticket holders who choose to travel to Miami for the match will do so for free, while those who do not wish to travel or cannot will receive a 20% discount on their season ticket for this season. All revenue generated from the match will be dedicated to compensating the fans.
The decision to play the match in Miami was made at the request of La Liga. Permission to play the match is pending from UEFA and FIFA. Roig noted that Villarreal has been pioneers in international expansion and wants to continue being so. He mentioned that not using their stadium to receive Barcelona is a possibility due to their poor record against them, but he also highlighted several victories against Barcelona in recent years, including a victory this year.
It is worth noting that La Liga had attempted to stage matches in the US before but was blocked by FIFA and the Spanish Football Federation. Recent changes in the legal landscape following a settlement between FIFA and Relevent Sports (an American promoter) have allowed this possibility. No other European La Liga teams have been identified as playing US matches beyond Villarreal and Barcelona for this specific game.
The RFEF has given its approval for Villarreal's match against FC Barcelona to be played in Miami. Scheduling considerations are being made due to an NFL game on December 21 involving the Miami Dolphins, but no Champions League games that week will conflict.
Roig stated that playing against Barcelona in their stadium has resulted in several victories for Villarreal in recent years, and he is hopeful that this trend will continue in Miami. The Club World Cup and the upcoming World Cup will be held in the United States, according to Roig, further signifying the growing importance of American football markets.
- The upcoming La Liga match between Villarreal and FC Barcelona in Miami might set a new average for the number of European-League matches played competitively outside Europe.
- In the footfall of this historic La Liga match in Miami, Villarreal aims to establish more football schools across the United States, building on the existing twelve.
