Football Match in Miami: Barcelona Take On Villarreal in La Liga Game after Spain's Approval for Miami Relocation of the Villarreal Home Game
The Spanish football league, La Liga, has made history by approving a regular-season La Liga game to be played outside of Spain, specifically in the United States. The match between Villarreal and Barcelona, scheduled for December 20, 2025, will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida [2][3].
This decision comes after the Spanish soccer federation initiated a process to seek approval for a La Liga match to be played outside of Spain and in the US [1]. The Spanish league has a long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross's portfolio of companies, including the Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Dolphins, Formula One's Miami Grand Prix, and the Miami Open tennis tournament [6].
The 17th-round match in La Liga will see Villarreal as the official home team. To compensate for the loss of a home game, season ticket holders will receive free tickets and travel arrangements [4]. The timing of the match has been strategically chosen, as it is planned right before the mid-season winter break, making it more feasible for both clubs [5].
However, not everyone is in favour of this decision. Real Madrid has expressed concerns about competitive advantages and has opposed the proposal [1][2][3]. Despite this, Barcelona and Villarreal are moving forward with the plan, aiming to promote football and La Liga's brand in the US [1].
This move towards playing matches abroad is part of La Liga's goal of expanding its reach and promoting football in other countries [7]. It's a trend that has become commonplace in US pro sports leagues, which regularly stage games in Europe, Asia, and South America to build their brands and fan bases [8].
FIFA has also shown a shift in its stance on this matter, ordering a review of its policy that blocks domestic league games from being played in other countries [9]. This could pave the way for more such cross-border matches in the future.
References: 1. La Liga to play match in US 2. La Liga game to be played in US 3. Villarreal vs Barcelona to be played in US 4. Free tickets and travel for Villarreal season ticket holders 5. La Liga game timing 6. Relevent Sports partnership with La Liga 7. La Liga's goal to promote football abroad 8. US pro sports leagues playing games abroad 9. FIFA reviewing policy on domestic league games played abroad
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