La Liga president Javier Tebas has long envisioned bringing La Liga matches to a global audience, particularly to the US. This ambition has now taken a significant step forward. The RFEF has approved a request from La Liga clubs to UEFA, initiating the process of seeking FIFA's permission to hold a match between Villarreal and Barcelona. This match, part of round 17 of the upcoming La Liga season, is scheduled for December 21st at Hard Rock Stadium, home of Inter Miami.

However, in a statement today, Real Madrid expressed concerns, suggesting this could mark a decline for the league. They worry about the potential imbalance it could create and the increasing negative influence of commercial interests on the sport's integrity.

Lamine Yamal (left) dribbles the ball during Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in round 11 of La Liga at the Bernabeu Stadium. Photo: Reuters

Lamine Yamal (left) dribbles the ball during Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Madrid in round 11 of La Liga at the Bernabeu Stadium. Photo: Reuters

The proposal to hold a La Liga match in the US, a subject of legal dispute between La Liga and the RFEF five years ago, has also drawn criticism from the Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE). The AFE criticized the RFEF and La Liga for handling the matter unilaterally without consulting the players.

Five years ago, La Liga and the RFEF clashed in court over the RFEF's refusal to allow a 2018-2019 season match between Girona and Barcelona to be held in the US. The lawsuit ended unfavorably for La Liga. At the time, the RFEF argued against moving the match abroad, citing the general principle that official national league matches should be played within the national federation's territory.

A year ago, FIFA amended its Regulations on International Matches, relaxing rules regarding matches held outside the respective federation's territory. This amendment considers the impact on competitive balance, including the interests of other teams in the league. With this change, holding La Liga matches abroad is no longer prohibited.

If UEFA and FIFA don't object, the 2025-2026 La Liga season will see its first official match outside Spain on December 21st. Barcelona is likely to travel to the current home of their former star, Lionel Messi. This would be a historic moment for Spanish football, a move with significant media and economic impact, but also a decision likely to reignite the debate about competitive integrity and fairness among clubs.

In a recent interview with ESPN, La Liga president Javier Tebas stated his preference for a "big club" for this transatlantic debut. He acknowledged that, given current relationships, Barcelona would be more cooperative than Real Madrid. He also considered Villarreal an attractive opponent due to their competitive level and participation in the upcoming Champions League.

The timing is not accidental. There are no European competitions scheduled for the week of December 15th-21st. Although the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey is planned for December 16th-18th, the schedule could be adjusted to allow Barcelona and Villarreal time to travel and acclimatize before the match in Florida.

During a recent tour of South Korea, Barcelona president Joan Laporta expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to play a La Liga match in the US, telling CNN Sports, "I think it would be very interesting. We fully support La Liga. For Barcelona, it would be a great honor to participate in this event, both as an official La Liga match and as a major event in the US, with the responsibility of promoting the league. We would be delighted to go to the US every year because Barcelona is loved, respected, and has many fans there".

This isn't the first time Barcelona has considered playing in Miami. Last season, with improved relations between La Liga and the RFEF, a match against Atletico Madrid was discussed. The agreement was almost finalized, but La Liga decided to postpone due to the unsuitable circumstances following the DANA flash floods.

In recent years, Spanish Super Cup matches have been held abroad. Starting with the 2018 edition between Barcelona and Sevilla in Morocco, the new four-team format, in place since 2020, has mostly been held in Saudi Arabia, with the exception of the 2021 edition in Seville. The goal is to increase the number of matches and generate more revenue through sponsorships and television rights.

In Italy, AC Milan also hopes to play a match against Como in Australia in February 2026, as the scheduled date for this fixture coincides with the Winter Olympics opening ceremony at the San Siro. However, this plan still awaits approval from FIFA, UEFA, the Football Federation Australia, and the Asian Football Confederation.

Meanwhile, the Premier League organizers have repeatedly stated they have no plans to take matches abroad.

Compiled by Ha Phuong