By Martin Graham
Real Madrid has firmly opposed a plan to move Villarreal’s upcoming league game against Barcelona to the United States, calling it “an unacceptable precedent.”
The match is set for 21 December at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved a proposal on Monday to shift it to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, a venue scheduled to host seven games during the 2026 World Cup.
The RFEF will now request authorization from both FIFA and UEFA to make the switch. In a statement, Real Madrid said the change would mark “a before and after for the world of football” and urged that the fixture remain in Spain.
The Spanish football supporters’ association (FASFE), along with fan groups from Barcelona and Villarreal, have also declared their resistance to the move and warned they would pursue legal measures if the plan went ahead.
Concerns over fairness and competition
Villarreal president Fernando Roig has voiced support for the proposed relocation, saying the club should “seize” the opportunity to grow its brand internationally. He argued that more teams recognize the need to expand globally and find ways to increase revenue in order to compete financially with other leagues such as the Premier League.
FIFA regulations currently prohibit domestic league fixtures from being played outside their home country, though the governing body formed a working group last year to examine the issue. In 2024, La Liga considered hosting a Barcelona – Atletico Madrid match in Miami but abandoned the idea because of scheduling pressures.
Real Madrid, winners of 36 league titles, have argued that allowing Villarreal to host a match away from its own stadium would distort competition and give an unwarranted benefit to the clubs involved. They said the match between the two sides at Camp Nou is scheduled for 1 March 2026, adding that all games should be played under identical conditions for every team.
The club has asked FIFA to block the proposal without unanimous agreement from all La Liga sides and has called on UEFA to press the RFEF to withdraw the request.
Other matches considered for overseas venues
In recent years, one-off events such as the Italian Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup have been staged abroad.
Separately, AC Milan are considering playing their Serie A meeting with Como in Perth, Australia, due to the San Siro being used for the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February. That plan is still awaiting clearance from FIFA, UEFA, Football Australia, and the Asian Football Confederation.
