Barcelona to Play La Liga Match in Miami, Faces Player Criticism & Offers Season Ticket Relief
Miami, FL – October 9, 2025, 8:54 a.m. – FC Barcelona and Villarreal FC will play a Spanish La Liga match in Miami shortly before Christmas, a move sparking notable controversy and prompting criticism from Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The December 20th game at Hard Rock Stadium will be the first official league match in a top European league held outside of Europe.
La Liga President Javier Tebas defended the decision, stating, “With this game we are taking a historic step that catapults La Liga and Spanish football into a new dimension… it is just a single game out of 380 in total this season.” The match was originally scheduled to be played in Villarreal.
To address fan concerns, Villarreal season ticket holders will be offered free travel to Miami. Those unable to make the approximately 7,500-kilometer journey will receive a 30 percent discount on their season ticket price.
Despite La Liga’s efforts, the decision has faced opposition. Barcelona club president Joan Laporta expressed gratitude for the opportunity to reach a key strategic market, but de Jong voiced strong disagreement. ”I don’t think it’s good that we’re going to play there,I don’t agree with it,” de Jong said during a Dutch national team training camp. He argued the game creates “unequal conditions,” stating, “It’s not fair for the competition. Now we’re playing an away game on neutral ground.”
Eighteen fan groups have already publicly rejected the idea of playing league games abroad, and rivals Real madrid previously stated the move would “change the competitive balance” and set an “unacceptable precedent.”
UEFA has “reluctantly” and “exceptionally” approved the Miami game, along with another international La Liga match. A Serie A game between AC Milan and Como 1907 is also scheduled to be played outside Europe,in Perth,Australia on Febuary 8th,due to scheduling conflicts with the Winter Olympics in Milan.
