Villarreal’s upcoming La Liga clash with Barcelona in December could become the first European league fixture to be played overseas after Spain’s football federation (RFEF) approved plans to host the match in the United States.
The RFEF confirmed it will now seek permission from UEFA and FIFA to move the game, scheduled for 21 December at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is also set to host seven games during the 2026 World Cup.
“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 federation said. “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.”
The move, if approved, would mark a historic shift in European football, potentially setting a precedent for future domestic league matches abroad.
However, the proposal has sparked immediate backlash. Spain’s football supporters’ association FASFE, along with fan groups from both Barcelona and Villarreal, issued a joint statement expressing their “absolute, total and firm opposition” to the plan. They urged the RFEF and the national sports council to “stop this madness” and warned of potential legal action if the match is moved.
While matches like the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup have been held abroad in recent years, regular league fixtures have remained domestic. FIFA’s current rules prohibit national league matches from being played outside their home country, though the governing body set up a working group last year to explore the issue.
La Liga previously attempted to host Barcelona v Atlético Madrid in Miami in 2024 and Girona v Barcelona in 2019, but both efforts were blocked. The Premier League has also faced similar backlash, shelving plans in 2008 for a controversial “39th game” to be played overseas after widespread fan and media criticism.
Meanwhile, AC Milan are also seeking permission to play a Serie A fixture against Como in Perth, Australia in February due to San Siro being used for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony. That proposal still awaits approval from FIFA, UEFA, Football Australia and the AFC.