LaLiga’s plan to host a historic match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami this December has officially been canceled. Below you will see complete information that has been summarized by The Football Insight.
The decision came after Relevant Sports, LaLiga’s North American partner, withdrew due to growing uncertainty and backlash in Spain. The league confirmed the cancellation, expressing regret that a project meant to expand Spanish football globally could not proceed.
LaLiga emphasized that the match fully complied with federation rules and did not harm the competition’s integrity. Still, political and institutional opposition halted the initiative. The match, scheduled for December 20 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, was supposed to be the first official European top-flight league game played outside its home continent.
Relevent stated there was not enough time to properly organize an event of this scale and deemed it irresponsible to start ticket sales without a confirmed fixture. Ticket presales had been delayed earlier in the week, initially attributed to “technical issues,” but the real reason was mounting uncertainty surrounding the event.
Backlash from Players, Fans, and Rival Clubs
The Miami plan faced strong opposition from several corners of Spanish football. Players, led by the AFE union, staged 15-second protests before every LaLiga match last weekend to denounce the lack of transparency and communication surrounding the event. Many athletes argued that such a move prioritized commercial interests over player welfare.
Real Madrid publicly called the match an “unacceptable precedent,” urging FIFA, UEFA, and Spain’s Sports Ministry to block it. Meanwhile, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong voiced his disapproval, citing travel fatigue and competitive fairness as key concerns. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois echoed these views, warning that playing league games abroad would “totally affect the integrity of the competition.”
Fans across Spain also reacted negatively, believing that taking a domestic match abroad would undermine the essence of local football culture. Despite this resistance, LaLiga president Javier Tebas had initially called the idea a “historic step” toward globalizing the league.
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Clubs React to the Cancellation
Barcelona released a statement expressing deep regret over the cancellation. The Catalan giants said they “respect and abide by” LaLiga’s decision but lamented the missed opportunity to connect with fans in the United States. The club thanked its American supporters and voiced disappointment that they would miss the chance to witness an official LaLiga game on U.S. soil.
Villarreal, on the other hand, criticized the timing of the league’s announcement. Coach Marcelino García Toral described LaLiga’s decision to issue the statement during their Champions League match against Manchester City as “a total lack of respect.” He promised the club would release its own statement after reviewing the situation.
Both clubs had initially embraced the opportunity, viewing it as a chance to strengthen their global profiles. However, the decision’s reversal highlighted the logistical and political complexities of taking Spanish football abroad.
Future of LaLiga’s Global Expansion Plans
This cancellation marks a major setback for LaLiga’s long-standing dream of expanding its reach into the North American market. Since 2018, the league has pushed to host at least one official match in the United States. So beginning with an initial proposal involving Girona and Barcelona.
Despite recent support from UEFA, which reluctantly approved the Miami game. FIFA’s unclear rules about cross-border matches remain a significant obstacle. Spain’s government also raised concerns about fairness and national representation in domestic leagues.
While Italy’s Serie A continues to plan its own overseas game in Australia next year. Their LaLiga hopes of doing the same are now uncertain. Still, president Javier Tebas insists that the league will keep exploring opportunities to bring Spanish football closer to its international fanbase. For now, though, the Miami dream has been put on hold—indefinitely. Also take advantage of your free time to explore more of the latest LaLiga news with just a click at footballcoasters.co.uk.