Overview

• The RFEF board agreed on August 11 to forward Villarreal and Barcelona’s proposal to UEFA to initiate FIFA authorisation for a December 20, 2025 fixture at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
• Final clearance will require sign-off from UEFA, FIFA, the United States Soccer Federation and CONCACAF, potentially creating the first official Spanish first-division match held outside Spain and the first European top-flight game in the U.S.
• The move follows FIFA’s 2024 settlement with Relevent Sports that led to a review and reversal of its previous ban on domestic league matches being played abroad.
• Spanish supporter group FASFE and the players’ association AFE have publicly opposed the plan and warned of possible legal challenges, highlighting resistance from fans and players.
• A pre-existing NFL game at Hard Rock Stadium on December 21 presents a date conflict that may require the LaLiga fixture to be rescheduled.