BARCELONA, SPAIN - JULY 25: FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta faces the media during the unveiled of Hansi Flick as new FC Barcelona Coach at Spotify Camp Nou on July 25, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images
Hosting an official LaLiga match on foreign soil has been a long-standing ambition of league president Javier Tebas.
For years, LaLiga has explored the possibility of taking Spanish top-flight football abroad, with Miami repeatedly emerging as the preferred destination.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, that ambition could move one step closer to reality tomorrow, when the RFEF holds a Board of Directors meeting.
The meeting will be held to decide on the proposed staging of the Villarreal vs Barcelona clash, scheduled for December 20, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
FIFA’s Article 11, Section 2 of the International Match Regulations outlines the process: once both clubs agree, the RFEF must notify UEFA.
MONACO, MONACO - OCTOBER 29: Javier Tebas, La Liga president give a speech during the SPORTEL Monaco 2024 - Global Sports Media & Technology Convention - Day Two at Grimaldi Forum on October 29, 2024 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sportel)
Javier Tebas has been pushing for La Liga games to be held away from Spain (Photo by Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images For Sportel)
If the RFEF approves tomorrow, UEFA would then need to give the go-ahead by November 30 – 21 days before the match.
Only then could the request proceed to CONCACAF and the United States Soccer Federation, the regional authorities for the game.
Although FIFA would be informed, its direct authorisation is not required if all procedural steps are followed.
If approved, this would be the first time Barcelona play an official LaLiga fixture on American soil, marking a landmark moment in the league’s global expansion plans.
Hosting a game in foreign soil could not only benefit La Liga but also Barcelona, who have been trying to build a base in the United States for a few years ago.
It must be noted that Barça have frequently opted for trips to the USA for pre-season in recent years. But if they can play official La Liga matches in US soil, it could do wonders for the club’s market in the country.