Tue Oct 21 16:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Miami Match Canceled: La Liga’s Plan to Bring Villarreal-Barça to U.S. Falls Apart
Madrid, Spain – La Liga’s controversial plan to hold a regular season match between Villarreal and FC Barcelona in Miami has been scrapped, the league announced today. The game, originally scheduled for December 20th at Hard Rock Stadium, was called off due to “uncertainty generated in Spain during the last few weeks,” according to a statement from La Liga.
The decision follows weeks of intense backlash against the proposed game. The Spanish Footballers Association (AFE) led vocal opposition, culminating in a 15-second stoppage during all league matches last weekend. Players, coaches, and club officials alike argued that playing a league game outside of Spain would unfairly alter the competition.
Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal publicly criticized La Liga president Javier Tebas, accusing him of violating regulations and potentially tainting the league’s integrity. While Tebas defended the plan, arguing it would help internationalize Spanish football, the pressure ultimately proved too much.
The cancellation marks a significant setback for La Liga’s efforts to expand its global reach, particularly in the lucrative U.S. market. The league lamented the lost opportunity, stating the Miami game would have been a “historical and unparalleled” opportunity to strengthen the international presence of Spanish clubs and the league itself. La Liga argues that the plan complied with all regulations and that opposition was based on other factors.
Despite the setback, La Liga maintains its commitment to international expansion and will continue to explore avenues to bring Spanish football to a global audience. They thanked the clubs for their willingness to participate in the failed venture. The project was cancelled by the promoter Relevent, with whom LaLiga had been working with.
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