Barcelona and Villarreal will play LaLiga match in Miami, USA! | OneFootball

Additional financial gain for the clubs

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The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed that it had received all official approvals, including the consent of both clubs, to move the Barcelona-Villarreal match to Miami.

This decision was welcomed by many football fans around the world, but on the other hand, there were also many fans who did not welcome the idea at all, finding it exaggerated.

What did the Spanish Football Federation say?

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has confirmed it will seek official approval to host an international match at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. Following a review of submitted documents and board approval, the federation announced plans to formally request UEFA's authorization before seeking FIFA's final approval for the December 20, 2025 fixture. The process will adhere to both FIFA's international match regulations and the RFEF's own implementing rules.

Future experiments for other leagues... or!

The debate over hosting domestic league matches abroad continues to stir controversy across football. Premier League CEO Richard Masters acknowledged in April 2023 that while his organization currently opposes overseas fixtures, FIFA's potential rule changes could open the door for other leagues to explore this option.

This discussion gained momentum after FIFA's April 2024 settlement with Relevent Sports in a U.S. legal case, which prompted the governing body to reconsider its stance on foreign-hosted matches. By May 2024, FIFA had established a working group to evaluate potential regulatory changes.

Meanwhile, Spanish fan groups—including supporters of Barcelona, Villarreal, and the FASFE—have voiced strong resistance to the idea. In a joint statement, they condemned the proposal outright, calling on the Spanish Football Federation and the CSD to halt what they described as "madness." The groups also threatened legal action should the plans proceed.