Spanish football fans and global sports enthusiasts alike were left reeling this week as the highly anticipated La Liga regular-season clash between Villarreal and Barcelona, originally slated for December 20, 2025, at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, was abruptly called off. The decision, announced on October 21, 2025, marks a significant setback for La Liga’s ambitious push to expand its international presence, particularly in the lucrative United States market.
The match, which would have been the first time a European top-flight league fixture was played on American soil, had generated considerable excitement—and no small amount of controversy—since its approval by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in August. La Liga and its partner, Relevent Sports, had worked tirelessly to secure the necessary green lights from governing bodies including UEFA, with the hope that this game would be a historic leap for Spanish football’s global profile.
However, opposition to the plan grew steadily within Spain. Over the past few weeks, the domestic backlash became impossible to ignore. Players across La Liga staged symbolic protests by refusing to move for the first 15 seconds of their weekend matches, a gesture orchestrated by the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) to express their discontent. But fans watching on television may have missed these acts of dissent; according to multiple reports, the league directed broadcasters to avoid showing the protests, opting instead for exterior shots of stadiums or tight camera angles away from the motionless players.
Real Madrid, one of the league’s most influential clubs, was especially vocal in its opposition. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois didn’t mince words when he said, "Teams should play home and away. It’s not the same to play against a team at home and away. It’s hard to play on the road in the Spanish league. Playing on the road at Villarreal’s field is very tough. Every team has to play at home and away unless there is a major reason for that not to happen." The club even called on FIFA to intervene, arguing that such a move would undermine the very integrity of the competition.
Promoter Relevent, whose joint venture with La Liga is at the heart of the league’s North American strategy, was the first to break the news of the postponement. In a statement, the company said, "Given the current uncertainty in Spain, there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale. It would also be irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed match in place." La Liga, for its part, confirmed the cancellation shortly after, expressing deep regret and describing the development as a blow to "the international profile of the entire football ecosystem."
The match will now revert to its original venue: Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica. For Villarreal, the timing of the announcement could hardly have been worse. The news broke during their 2-0 Champions League home defeat to Manchester City, prompting coach Marcelino to blast the timing as "absolute disrespect to the club, professionals and board of directors and fans." He added, "From here onwards, the club will send an official communication but this is just what I think."
Barcelona, one of the clubs that had supported the Miami plan, issued a measured response. In a statement, the club said it "respects and accepts the decision to cancel the match against Villarreal in Miami, of the 17th gameweek of La Liga, just as it respected the decision to play there in the past." The club went on to lament the "wasted opportunity to expand the brand of the competition in a strategic market with the capacity to grow and generate resources for the benefit of all," and expressed gratitude for the support from its U.S. fanbase, who were "denied the opportunity to witness an official match in their country."
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, had previously acknowledged that his players were unhappy with the prospect of playing abroad, but emphasized the club’s willingness to comply with the league’s decisions. Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta had been bullish just hours before the cancellation, stating, "For us it is such a joy to go to Miami and play in front of all the fans we have there. It is a way to promote our brand in the U.S." The abrupt reversal left many in the club, including players who had begun making travel plans, in shock.
Financial confusion also played a role in the saga. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague noted, "Perhaps there wasn’t enough money, perhaps the money wasn’t clear where it was going, but certainly it’s been a lot of confusion. Villarreal were saying, 'We’re not getting any money for it', but Barcelona were saying, 'As soon as we get into the plane, we will get money.'" The logistics of transporting Villarreal’s promised 5,000 fans to Miami also remained unclear.
La Liga president Javier Tebas, a driving force behind the initiative, described the cancellation as a "missed opportunity for Spanish football," lamenting the sport’s lost chance to "move forward, project itself to the world, and strengthen its future." The league maintained that the project was fully compliant with federation regulations and did not compromise competitive integrity, despite UEFA’s president Aleksander Ceferin labeling the idea "regrettable" and reiterating that league matches should be played on home soil.
The internationalization of domestic football is not a new trend. The Spanish Super Cup has been played in Saudi Arabia in four of the last five seasons, and Serie A is moving forward with plans to stage a match between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, in February 2026. UEFA’s recent approval of Italian and Spanish league matches overseas was granted "on an exceptional basis amid regulatory gaps at global level," making it clear that such events are not yet the norm.
Fan groups, including the Spanish Football Supporters’ Association (FASFE) and supporters’ organizations from both Villarreal and Barcelona, voiced "absolute, total and firm opposition" to the Miami game. Glenn Micallef, the European Union commissioner for intergenerational fairness, youth, culture and sport, went so far as to call the move a "betrayal" of Spanish clubs’ local communities.
The abrupt cancellation leaves La Liga at a crossroads. While the league has pledged to continue seeking global opportunities, the backlash serves as a reminder that football’s roots run deep at home. For now, Spanish fans can look forward to seeing Villarreal and Barcelona face off at Estadio de la Ceramica, as tradition—and passionate local sentiment—prevail over international ambition. Whether this is the end of the story or just a pause in La Liga’s global push remains to be seen, but the debate over football’s future direction is far from over.