UEFA Hardly Agrees To Villarreal Vs Barcelona Match In The United States

JAKARTA - UEFA has a heavy heart to agree to a proposal to hold a La Liga match between Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami, United States.

UEFA clearly opposed the idea of playing domestic league matches outside their home countries.

The European Football Confederation added that it had approved two requests - one from La Liga and another from Serie A involving AC Milan vs Como - citing an obscure FIFA framework.

UEFA had previously postponed its decision on whether the Villarreal vs Barcelona match could be held at the Hard Rock Miami Stadium on December 20, 2025 local time or not.

Meanwhile, AC Milan vs Como has a similar plan to face each other in Perth, Australia, in February 2026.

The final decision on organizing this match will now be submitted to FIFA, which is still in the process of finalizing new regulations.

The decision comes amid strong opposition from supporters across Europe.

"UEFA today reaffirmed its firm rejection of domestic league matches played outside their home countries," UEFA said in a statement.

"After a meeting of the Executive Committee in Tirana (Albania) last month, UEFA conducted further consultations with stakeholders."

"The consult confirms the lack of support that has been put forward by supporters, other leagues, clubs, players, and European institutions over the concept of domestic league matches being relocated overseas."

"However, given the relevant FIFA regulatory framework - which is currently being reviewed - not clear enough and detailed, the UEFA Executive Committee has made a heavy decision to approve both submitted requests."

"UEFA will actively contribute to sustainable work led by FIFA to ensure that future regulations uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and close ties between clubs, their supporters, and the local community," UEFA said in a statement on Monday, October 6, 2025, local time.

This decision will be seen as a big win for La Liga, which has been trying to move the game to the United States since 2017.

After the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) supported the proposal earlier this year, UEFA's approval, although somewhat doubtful, was seen as a significant step forward.

A league source told ESPN, Concacaf and the United States Football Federation (US Soccer) it would now be notified and explained that this was the next step to complete the process, but with the hope that no one would object. Then, the decision will be submitted to FIFA.

There is still a significant resistance in Spain, from the Spanish Football Association (AFE), supporters' groups, and La Liga clubs. Real Madrid is one of the tough ones to refuse by saying it distorts the competition.

While none of them can immediately stop the process of moving games to the US, they can raise the issue to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

There is also a potential clash of match schedules that must be resolved. Villarreal vs Barcelona is scheduled for the weekend 20-21 December 2025.

On Sunday, December 21, 2025, Miami Dolphins is scheduled to face Cincinnati Bengals at the Hard Rock Stadium in the NFL. The match is currently scheduled for a lucrative Sunday Night Football slot.

Turning a stadium into a football host one day into an amateur football the following day, or vice versa, would be a challenge, although some sources told ESPN that it might happen.