La Liga officers have lengthy sought to deliver a regular-season match to the USA in an effort to develop the league’s attain amongst American followers. Now, with UEFA granting approval, Lamine Yamal’s FC Barcelona are near dealing with Villarreal in Miami.
Barcelona have at all times been the league’s most popular option to symbolize Spanish soccer overseas, however earlier makes an attempt fell by way of. The closest La Liga got here was in December 2024, when the Catalan aspect was anticipated to face Atlético Madrid at Laborious Rock Stadium — a proposal that in the end didn’t materialize.
With La Liga president Javier Tebas strongly backing the undertaking, UEFA has now introduced its determination to approve the match between Barcelona and Villarreal to be performed in Miami. The sport is anticipated to happen on December 21, marking what can be the primary official La Liga fixture held exterior of Spain.
Alongside La Liga’s initiative, Serie A additionally acquired UEFA’s inexperienced mild to host a league sport overseas. Italian golf equipment AC Milan and Como will play their Matchday 16 fixture in Perth, Australia, on the identical date — December 21 — as a part of an analogous worldwide growth effort.
FC Barcelona and Villarreal are set to conflict for 2025-26 La Liga Matchday 17 in Miami.
Planning for the U.S. match has already cleared key phases with La Liga, the Spanish Soccer Federation (RFEF), and UEFA. The ultimate determination now rests with FIFA, which should authorize the occasion, together with CONCACAF, the regional physique internet hosting the match. If permitted, it will mark Lamine Yamal’s first-ever official look on U.S. soil.
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UEFA stays cautious about abroad league matches
Whereas the proposals from La Liga and Serie A gift an thrilling alternative for worldwide followers to expertise aggressive league matches fairly than preseason friendlies, UEFA stays cautious about setting a long-term precedent.
Reiterating the group’s stance, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin mentioned: “League matches must be performed on house soil; the rest would disenfranchise loyal match-going followers and probably introduce distortive components in competitions. Our session confirmed the breadth of those considerations. I want to thank the 55 nationwide associations for his or her constructive and accountable engagement on such a delicate subject”.
Čeferin additional clarified that the Barcelona–Villarreal and Milan–Como matches are exceptions, not the beginning of a development.. “Whereas it’s regrettable to need to let these two video games go forward, this determination is phenomenal and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. Our dedication is obvious: to guard the integrity of nationwide leagues and be sure that soccer stays anchored in its house atmosphere,” Ceferin acknowledged
