Two of Spanish soccer’s strongest sides will play a historic competitive match in Miami, with Barcelona and Villarreal set to play an official La Liga game at Hard Rock Stadium on Dec. 20.
While European soccer teams have staged dozens of summer friendlies and exhibitions all over the world, this match would be the first instance of any of Europe’s biggest leagues holding an official league match in another country.
‘This is a landmark moment for La Liga and for world football,” La Liga president Javier Tebas said in a news release. ‘By bringing an official match to the United States, we are not only connecting with millions of fans across North America, but also reinforcing Spain’s leadership as a global soccer powerhouse. With the support of all relevant institutions, this initiative is bold, historic, and designed to inspire both our fans abroad and those at home in Spain.’
The match will pair two of Spain’s best teams, with both clubs participating in this season’s edition of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona, with teen phenom Lamine Yamal leading one of soccer’s most star-studded rosters, is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most famous clubs. While Villarreal rather infamously hail from one of the smallest Spanish cities to host a top-flight club, the team has managed 11 top-five La Liga finishes over the last quarter-century.
A pre-sale event for tickets will open on Tuesday, Oct. 21, while sales to the general public will begin at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Barcelona vs. Villarreal in Miami: Can La Liga play matches outside of Spain?
When it comes to national teams or international club tournaments in soccer, it is not entirely uncommon to see a match played in a neutral location. Political instability, sanctions against a club or country, or stadium problems have forced competitive games to be staged in a nation neither participant hails from.
There are also examples of a club from one country playing in another nation’s league. AS Monaco, who play in the French top flight, is the best-known example around the world, while MLS has three Canadian teams. Similar situations exist for microstates like Liechtenstein and San Marino. All of those instances have required approval from FIFA.
However, the idea of staging domestic league matches outside of the country the two clubs are from has drawn significant pushback over the years. Players have cited the increased travel as compounding the issues presented by a relentless global soccer calendar, while committed local fans object to having home games staged abroad.
UEFA issued a statement Monday, with the European governing body explaining that FIFA’s vague guidelines left little option but to ‘reluctantly’ approve two such matches. Along with the Barcelona vs. Villarreal clash in Miami, Italian clubs AC Milan and Como are set to face off in Perth, Australia in February 2026.
‘League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,’ said UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. ‘While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.’
Still, the situation may be out of the hands of soccer’s traditional power brokers. In 2019 event promoter Relevent brought an antitrust suit against U.S. Soccer and FIFA after attempts to stage Spanish and Ecuadorian domestic league play in the United States were rebuffed. Relevent’s plan was to promote a game between Barcelona and Girona, again in Miami.
That suit was settled in April of this year, effectively opening the door for leagues who are willing and able to make the necessary arrangements. La Liga has a long-term partnership with Relevent, which like host venue Hard Rock Stadium is owned by real estate magnate Stephen M. Ross.
