When La Liga introduced its formidable plan to stage a regular-season fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, the transfer was hailed as a daring step towards globalizing Spanish soccer. But, after weeks of controversy, protests, and political maneuvering, the challenge has been abruptly known as off — leaving Barcelona and its stars Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Marcus Rashford, going through a multimillion-euro setback, in a means, due to its arch-rival Actual Madrid.
The sport was scheduled for December 20 at Miami’s Exhausting Rock Stadium, the place practically 70,000 tickets had already been reserved, marking what would have been a record-setting turnout for a European league match on U.S. soil. It was meant to be the primary time La Liga staged an official fixture overseas — a long-gestating dream first proposed in 2018 beneath a 15-year cope with Relevent Sports activities, the U.S. promoter additionally concerned within the Miami Dolphins and Method 1’s Miami Grand Prix.
However that dream unraveled this week. La Liga confirmed that the occasion was “postponed indefinitely” after discussions with Relevent and Spanish soccer authorities, citing “uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the previous few weeks.”
The choice got here amid mounting home opposition. Gamers staged protests throughout Spain’s prime flight, standing immobile for 15 seconds after kickoff to exhibit in opposition to the abroad match. “Groups ought to play house and away,” Actual Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois instructed reporters. “Taking part in on the highway at Villarreal’s area may be very powerful. Each workforce has to play at house and away except there’s a main cause for that to not occur.”
The gamers’ union, the AFE, backed these protests, calling the match “a disruption to the integrity of competitors.” In the meantime, Actual Madrid reportedly lobbied in opposition to the plan behind the scenes, interesting to soccer’s governing our bodies — together with FIFA, UEFA, and even CONCACAF — to dam the transfer.
Barcelona’s U.S. dream turns expensive
For Barcelona, the cancellation was greater than a scheduling challenge — it was a monetary and branding blow. The membership had projected income between $5.8 and $7 million from the occasion, together with ticketing, sponsorship activations, and media rights. These funds had already been factored into the membership’s short-term monetary outlook as a part of its ongoing financial restoration plan.
The membership had additionally lined up an in depth business and advertising marketing campaign within the U.S., led by major sponsor Spotify and monetary accomplice Goldman Sachs, with activations deliberate throughout Miami, Los Angeles, and New York. The journey was additionally anticipated to strengthen ties with American followers and buyers, lots of whom had been desirous to see stars like Robert Lewandowski, Lamine Yamal, and Marcus Rashford in motion.
Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona (R) celebrates scoring his workforce’s second objective with teammate Lamine Yamal (L).
“The membership appreciates the help and unconditional affection it has acquired from our followers in america and deeply regrets that they’re unable to attend the official match within the nation,” Barcelona mentioned in an official assertion.
The match was additionally anticipated to function a cultural occasion — a celebration of soccer’s rising presence in North America, simply months earlier than the 2026 World Cup takes place within the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
