The Spanish football federation’s board has approved La Liga’s proposal for Villarreal’s clash with Barcelona to be played in Miami this December, taking a significant step toward hosting a competitive Spanish top-flight match in the United States.
On Monday, the RFEF Board of Directors confirmed it had received official documentation from both clubs detailing their intention to stage their Matchday 17 fixture abroad.
After reviewing the request, the federation stated it would forward the proposal to UEFA, setting in motion the process for FIFA to give the final green light.
If approved, the game, originally set for December 21, 2025, at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, would instead take place a day earlier at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
The move would represent another bold effort to take La Liga beyond Spain and into a wider global market.
In an official statement, the RFEF said, “At its meeting on August 11, 2025, the RFEF Board of Directors learned of the request from Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to host the matchday 17 of the First Division in the United States.
“After receiving and checking the documentation received, and after the approval of the Board of Directors, the Royal Spanish Football Federation will submit to UEFA the request to begin the procedures for the subsequent authorization by FIFA for the match to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (United States, USSF, CONCACAF), on December 20, 2025, in accordance with the FIFA International Match Regulations and the implementing rules approved by the RFEF.”
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has already voiced his support for the plan, telling CNN earlier this month that playing a competitive match in the United States would be a “great honour” for the club.