Barcelona and Villarreal await FIFA approval to stage La Liga clash in Miami | OneFootball

None of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues has ever held a match outside its own territory

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) confirmed it had given approval to a request from the clubs on Monday.

The federation said in a statement: "After receiving and checking the documentation received, and after the approval of the board of directors, the RFEF will submit to UEFA the request to begin the procedures for the subsequent authorisation by FIFA for the match to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20, 2025, in accordance with the FIFA international match regulations and the implementing rules approved by the RFEF."

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in April last year his competition had no plans to move matches overseas but accepted FIFA moves to review the rules meant the "door was ajar" for other leagues to do so.

FIFA first said it was considering changing its authorisation rules on such matches in a statement following a settlement it agreed with Relevent Sports in a court case in the United States in April 2024.

The following month, FIFA said it was forming a working group to "consider a revised legal framework" governing the authorisation of matches played overseas.

It would not be the first time Spanish football has held a competitive match abroad. Since 2022, the Supercopa de Espana has been held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, the proposed venue, is a multi-purpose arena, primarily home to the Miami Dolphins NFL team. It has also hosted tennis, Formula One, and several Club World Cup matches.