In October 2025, La Liga, Spain’s top football league, announced that FC Barcelona would face Villarreal CF in a regular-season and the match was held at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, on December 20, 2025.
The plan was meant to promote Spanish football globally and grow its fan base in North America. But within just two weeks, the ambitious idea fell apart because of legal issues, protests and strong opposition from players and clubs.
What Was the Plan ?
La Liga president Javier Tebas had long dreamed of hosting official league games outside Spain as part of his strategy to globalize the competition. The Miami match, organised with American promoter Relevent Sports, was meant to be the first-ever La Liga fixture played abroad.
The league even secured approvals from UEFA and Spain’s football federation (RFEF) to move the Barcelona vs Villarreal game to the United States in December. However, what was meant to be a milestone for Spanish football quickly turned into a controversy that divided clubs, players, and authorities.
Why Did the Plan Fail?
1. Played Opposition
The strongest opposition came from the players. Spain’s players’ union, AFE, protested the move, saying they were never asked for their opinion. To show their disagreement, footballers across La Liga stopped play for 15 seconds before kick-off in several matches. They felt that moving a league game abroad would affect their schedules, increase their travel pressure, and go against their work agreement.
2. Lack of Support from Major Clubs
At the same time, leading clubs such as Real Madrid were strongly opposed to the idea, claiming that hosting a league fixture abroad would compromise competitive balance by removing home advantage. Even Barcelona, although initially they were supportive, but later on they, expressed doubts about the fairness and practicality of the move.
3. Poor Communication and Planning
Villarreal publicly revealed their disappointment with La Liga, saying that they were not properly involved in the discussions about the Miami match. According to the club, they received information very late and it lacked clarity on key issues such as travel logistics, fan management, and financial compensation. The poor coordination and lack of transparency escalated the backlash.
4. Legal and Regulatory Barriers
While UEFA and the RFEF had given permission, Spain’s national sports authority (CSD) stated that there were no clear rules allowing an official league match to be played abroad. This legal grey area created uncertainty and left the organizers exposed to potential challenges.
5. Withdrawal of Relevant Sports
With growing opposition and no clear resolution, the American partner Relevent Sports eventually pulled out of the plan, citing “uncertainty generated in Spain” and a lack of sufficient time to prepare. This decision effectively ended hopes of holding the game in Miami.
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What Does It Mean for La Liga?
The fall down of the Miami plan represents a significant blow to La Liga’s international ambitions. President Javier Tebas had hoped the event would mark a new era of global growth, particularly in the North American market. Instead of that, it exposed the internal disagreements and communication gaps within Spanish football.
- Loss of trust: Clubs and players now question La Liga’s leadership and decision-making transparency.
- Missed opportunity: The cancellation means La Liga missed a chance to compete with the English Premier League, which already has a strong global presence.
- Reputation concerns: Villarreal’s criticism and Real Madrid’s resistance show that internal unity is still a challenge for the league.
What’s Next for La Liga?
Despite the setback, Tebas insists that the idea of playing matches abroad is not over. He stated that the league will “keep trying” to organize an overseas fixture in the future, but with better planning and consultation.
Here’s what might happen next
- New regulations: FIFA and national sports bodies could create clear rules on how domestic matches can be played abroad.
- More dialogue: La Liga may hold talks with clubs, players, and fans before making another attempt.
- Alternative locations: The league might look at other potential host countries or explore preseason tournaments as a middle ground.
- Influence on other leagues: Serie A and other European leagues, which were also considering similar plans, may now move more cautiously after seeing La Liga’s struggles.
Conclusion
La Liga’s Miami dream failed because of poor communication, lack of agreement, and legal confusion. While the goal of taking Spanish football to a global stage remains appealing.
The league learned a hard lesson: big ideas in football only succeed when players, clubs, and fans all move in the same direction. For now, the match in Miami won’t happen, but the desire to bring Spanish football closer to international fans isn’t dead, it’s just on hold.
Written by Kinjal Walantra