Barcelona vs Villarreal in Miami: LaLiga Confirms Historic Match in USA

LaLiga Confirms Barcelona vs. Villarreal Match in Miami

LaLiga has confirmed its plans for the match between Barcelona and Villarreal to be played on December 20 in Miami, after UEFA cleared the way for the match to be moved to the United States earlier this week. LaLiga president Javier Tebas stated that the plans are “practically finalized” for Villarreal and Barcelona to face each other at Hard Rock Stadium. The Spanish league must now submit a request to the United States Soccer Federation (US Soccer) and Concacaf to obtain final approval to play the match in the United States. FIFA will not play any role in the decision. If it is finally approved by all parties involved, the Barça vs. Villarreal match will become the first match of one of the five major European leagues to be played on foreign soil, following a model that has been implemented in the NFL and NBA in recent years.

This match is a historic step that takes LALIGA and Spanish football to a completely new level. We understand and respect the concerns that this decision may generate, but it is important to put it in context: this is one match out of the 380 that make up the season. LALIGA represents millions of fans around the world, including many who follow their teams with passion and deserve the opportunity to experience seeing them live at least once.

Javier Tebas, President of LaLiga

Tebas’ statement comes after UEFA announced earlier this week that it had reluctantly agreed to allow two European league matches to be played abroad. The other is the request from Italian teams AC Milan and Como to play in Perth, Australia, in February. Villarreal was scheduled to host the match against Barcelona at the Estadio de la Cerámica on the weekend of December 20th. LaLiga announced that “compensation measures have also been put in place for the local club’s season ticket holders.”

The Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) expressed its discontent with LaLiga’s plans and announced a meeting with LaLiga, Barcelona, and Villarreal executives. The president of Barcelona, Joan Laporta, added: “We are looking forward to reconnecting with all our fans in the United States and we thank LALIGA for the opportunity to get closer to one of the Club’s key strategic markets. We have been visiting the country for many years and have always felt the passion that FC Barcelona inspires.” LaLiga has been trying to move a match to the United States since 2017, but has encountered significant opposition in that time. UEFA announced that it had also reluctantly agreed to the proposals of the Spanish and Italian leagues. US Soccer and Concacaf will consult with key stakeholders before making a decision. There is significant opposition in Spain from the Players’ Association (AFE) and the LaLiga clubs. Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong added his opposition to moving the match. The game is scheduled for the lucrative “Sunday Night Football” slot.