As the 2025/26 season approaches, La Liga continues its global expansion ambitions, aiming to boost the competition’s profile beyond Spain’s borders.
Clubs like Barcelona have been at the heart of these efforts, with an eye on expanding their international fanbase and commercial reach.
The idea of staging high-profile fixtures overseas has long been discussed but faced numerous hurdles, including resistance from football authorities and logistical challenges.
Yet, with global interest in Spanish football surging, the prospect of an official La Liga match being played abroad is closer than ever.
A key breakthrough has now emerged involving Barcelona and Villarreal.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Royal Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) Board of Directors has approved forwarding a request to UEFA to allow the upcoming Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture to be staged at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December.
This decision marks a historic step for Spanish football, as it would be the first official La Liga match to take place outside national borders.
The approval from RFEF was overwhelmingly supported by the board, signalling strong institutional backing for the venture.
However, UEFA must now grant formal authorisation by 30 November, following FIFA’s regulations on international matches.
Once UEFA signs off, the request will also need to be sent to CONCACAF and the United States Soccer Federation.
FIFA will be kept informed throughout the process but does not need to give formal approval if all steps are correctly followed.
This is La Liga’s third attempt to stage a match abroad after two previous efforts failed.
The first attempt in 2018 involved a Girona vs Barcelona match in Miami but was vetoed by then-RFEF president Luis Rubiales amid political disputes.
The second attempt last year proposed Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid also in Miami but was withdrawn due to the RFEF’s interim board status.
With all approvals seemingly in place, and Barcelona and Villarreal already on board, it appears third time could indeed be the charm.
Reports suggest Barcelona will receive around €4 million as compensation for playing the fixture abroad, although official figures remain undisclosed.
If the move goes ahead, it would mark a landmark moment for La Liga and set a new precedent for domestic football played on foreign soil.
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