BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 18: Players of Villarreal CF give players of FC Barcelona a guard of honour as they walk onto the pitch prior to the La Liga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on May 18, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images
In a day and age where innovation is everything and publicity rules, football leagues across the globe are in an effort to bring something new to the table to try and improve their brand value. La Liga, at this point, is no different.
It has been on Javier Tebas’ mind for a while now to play one league game away from Spain on a new continent so as to improve the popularity of the league and appeal to overseas fans.
Last season, such an arrangement failed to unfold, but the La Liga president refuses to give up.
As has been widely circulated in the media for a while now, he aims to schedule the game between Barcelona and Villarreal, set to be held on December 20th, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA.
As relayed in a recent report by MARCA, the aforementioned game involving Barcelona is increasingly likely to be played in the USA. In fact, both teams take it for granted at this point in time that the game will be played overseas.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 18: Pedri of FC Barcelona runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Daniel Parejo and Alfonso Pedraza of Villarreal CF during the La Liga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on May 18, 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
Barcelona vs Villarreal could take place in the US. (Photo by Judit Cartiel/Getty Images)
Both the Barcelona and Villarreal camps have reportedly begun to organise their agendas to take part in the first-ever La Liga game to be played overseas, and the official scheduling may just be around the corner.
The Spanish outlet relays that all possible factors will be weighed in and considered while preparing for the game, and it will begin only if there is institutional approval from both sides.
Needless to say, the calendars of both teams will be considered before scheduling the game so as to provide compensatory rest for the prolonged travel.
As it stands, it remains to be seen what clauses the two clubs put forth from their end before officially agreeing to the fixture.
After all, it will be the first and definitely not the last league game to be played overseas, and this marks the start of a new era of football.