Why does Real Madrid object to a LALIGA match on US soil?
Real Madrid issued a strongly worded statement opposing the decision to host a LALIGA match outside of Spain. This is a fixture revolving around Villarreal and FC Barcelona’s clash on 21st December 2025 in the 2025/26 LALIGA season. Spanish football fans and all team captains share Real Madrid’s concerns.
This is a dream come true for the league’s president, Javier Tebas, who always wanted to bring Spanish football to a global audience. Hosting on foreign soil is a significant step forward, but the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) still needs authorisation from FIFA and UEFA before the match can go ahead. Why would Real Madrid be so against this idea?
Why is this an issue for Real Madrid?
The match is a LALIGA event between Villarreal and FC Barcelona, two of the top contenders in Spanish football. That means it’s a fan-favourite matchup that the league is offering to showcase abroad, not to their dedicated local fans.
Additionally, playing a LALIGA match outside of Spain contradicts the tradition of hosting domestic league matches on home soil. This would also mean that both sides play on neutral ground, rather than Villarreal hosting the event at Estadi de la Ceràmica.
Other parties opposed to the LALIGA showcase abroad
Real Madrid isn’t the only one opposing this idea. The Spanish Footballers' Association (AFE) released a statement opposing the Miami-scheduled fixture as well. According to their statement, executives made the decision without consulting the rest of LALIGA.
‘We want respect and transparency’ is a key statement highlighted. This statement is co-signed by all 20 team captains in the First Division, including Marc-André ter Stegen. Barcelona management was reportedly unhappy with their team captain’s stance, as the Miami showcase aligns with the club’s interests.
Villarreal and FC Barcelona support the decision
The idea of playing a Barcelona game in Miami wasn’t a new concept that came out of nowhere. It was a continued endeavour for over seven years, which wasn’t successful until this season. With the proposal approved, the RFEF is now seeking FIFA and UEFA’s authorisation to hold the match at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.
Villarreal club president Fernando Roig acknowledged inevitable inconveniences, but will do their best to compensate. However, it’s a fantastic opportunity for the club. Villarreal offered to compensate 19,500 season-ticket holders for their travel to Miami to watch the match live. If they cannot attend or choose not to, they will receive a 20% discount on their season ticket.
Spain isn’t the only country with this idea. It was a race with Italy, which wanted to host a Serie A game in Australia. This is also happening in 2026 at Perth between AC Milan and Como. This means Spain is the first country to successfully host a major football competition abroad, giving LALIGA a huge lead over other leagues.
