Villarreal–Barcelona Match to Remain in Spain After Miami Plans Fall Through
Miami, FL – Plans to stage a La Liga match between villarreal CF adn FC Barcelona in Miami on December 20 have been scrapped after local organizers withdrew their support, effectively ensuring teh game will be played in Spain.The decision marks a reversal for La Liga, which had pursued the highly-publicized initiative to showcase Spanish football in the United States.
The move follows important backlash from clubs, players, and fans over the proposed relocation.La Liga initially announced the plan last week, sparking protests from both Villarreal and Barcelona, who expressed concerns about the logistical challenges and sporting fairness of playing a league match abroad. Players from both teams symbolically delayed the start of their weekend matches by 15-30 seconds to demonstrate their opposition.
While organizers cited insufficient time to finalize logistics and ticketing as the official reason for the cancellation, the widespread discontent within Spain is widely believed to be the primary factor. “We think it is indeed a great pity that this project, which could have internationalized Spanish football in a historic way, cannot take place,” La Liga stated. “This could have been a decisive step in the global expansion of our league. We will continue to work to take Spanish football to all corners of the world.”
The failed attempt represents a setback for La Liga’s ambitions to expand its global reach and tap into the lucrative American market. the league had hoped the miami game would serve as a precedent for future matches played outside of Spain, but the resistance encountered suggests a challenging path forward for such initiatives. The Villarreal-Barcelona fixture will now be played in Spain, with a confirmed date and location to be announced.
