Real Madrid Opposes U.S.-Hosted La Liga Game Proposal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Real Madrid has strongly opposed plans to host a regular-season La Liga match in Miami, citing threats to competition integrity. Villarreal supports the move and promises free travel for fans if approved. The final decision rests with FIFA and UEFA.
Real Madrid US Match Dispute Quick Looks
- Real Madrid rejects hosting La Liga match in the U.S.
- Villarreal-Barça game scheduled for Dec. 20 in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium if approved.
- Madrid warns of a “turning point” in world football.
- Club claims lack of consultation and violation of competition fairness.
- Villarreal offers free travel and tickets to season-ticket holders.
- FIFA, UEFA, and Spain’s sports council must approve match.
- Fans’ groups and Football Supporters Europe oppose moving domestic matches abroad.
- Plan ties to La Liga’s partnership with Relevent Sports.
Real Madrid Opposes U.S.-Hosted La Liga Game Proposal
Deep Look
MADRID — Real Madrid has issued a firm statement opposing a proposal to stage a regular-season La Liga match in the United States, warning that such a move could undermine the fairness and legitimacy of Spanish football.
The dispute centers on the 17th-round fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona, scheduled for December 20, 2025, which La Liga hopes to host at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. If approved, it would be the first-ever Spanish top-flight league match played abroad.
Madrid’s Strong Opposition
On Tuesday, Real Madrid announced it has taken steps to block the game from happening outside Spain. The club argued that moving a domestic fixture to another country violates “territorial reciprocity” — the principle that teams in a two-legged competition play once at home and once away.
According to Madrid, hosting the game in Miami would give Villarreal and Barcelona “an undue sporting advantage” and “distort the competitive balance.” The club described the proposal as an “unacceptable precedent” that prioritizes commercial interests over sporting integrity.
“If this proposal were to be carried out, its consequences would be so serious that it would be a turning point in the world of football,” the statement read.
Madrid also criticized the lack of prior consultation with clubs and asked Spain’s top sports authority not to grant administrative approval without unanimous agreement from all La Liga clubs.
Appeal to Governing Bodies
Madrid has formally requested that FIFA and UEFA deny permission for the match. It cited UEFA’s 2018 position that domestic league games should not be played outside their home countries except in exceptional circumstances — which, it argued, are not present here.
FIFA and UEFA must both approve the move before it can go ahead. The Spanish Football Federation has already given its consent.
Fan Groups Push Back
The Europe-wide supporter organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) condemned the proposal, warning that moving domestic matches abroad “strikes at the heart” of the bond between fans and clubs. The group pledged to work with stakeholders and partner organizations to oppose what it called “the latest threat to the very nature of football.”
FSE also criticized Italy’s Serie A for planning to host the AC Milan vs. Como match in Perth, Australia, in February 2026.
Villarreal’s Enthusiasm and Fan Incentives
While Madrid has dug in its heels, Villarreal has embraced the opportunity. The club’s president, Fernando Roig, announced that season-ticket holders would receive free travel and tickets to Miami if the match is approved. Fans who choose not to attend would get a 20% discount on their season ticket price.
“We would be the first Spanish team to play a league match abroad,” Roig said. “It would greatly help us expand our brand in a key market like the United States.”
The offer mirrors a 2018 proposal from Girona, when La Liga first attempted to stage a match in the U.S. between Barcelona and Girona — an effort ultimately abandoned after backlash from players, fans, and other clubs.
Commercial Ties and Expansion Strategy
The push to play in the United States is part of La Liga’s partnership with New York-based Relevent Sports, a sports and entertainment group owned by Stephen Ross, who also owns the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium, Formula 1’s Miami Grand Prix, and the Miami Open tennis tournament.
Earlier this year, Relevent secured exclusive negotiating rights for global commercial rights to UEFA men’s club competitions for 2027–2033, further deepening its influence in elite football marketing.
La Liga has long sought to expand its global footprint, inspired by the NBA and NFL, which regularly stage games in foreign markets to grow their international fan bases.
Tradition vs. Global Ambitions
For critics, moving regular-season games abroad risks alienating local supporters who form the backbone of the clubs. For proponents, it’s a bold step toward growing the league’s profile and revenue streams.
Whether the Villarreal-Barcelona match becomes a reality will depend on the decisions of FIFA, UEFA, and Spain’s sports authorities in the coming weeks. Until then, the proposal has deepened the divide between La Liga’s leadership, clubs like Real Madrid, and fans concerned about protecting the domestic traditions of the sport.
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