October 21 — Madrid. LaLiga has officially cancelled its plan to stage the Villarreal vs. Barcelona league match in Miami on December 20, citing “uncertainty in Spain over the past few weeks” following discussions with its U.S. event partner Relevent Sports.
The decision brings an end to months of controversy surrounding LaLiga’s attempt to host an official league fixture outside Spain for the first time — a move that drew heavy criticism from football authorities, players, and fans both domestically and abroad.
Opposition to the proposed Miami fixture was fierce, with critics arguing that it would compromise the competitive integrity of the league by effectively gifting Barcelona a neutral venue for what is traditionally one of the most difficult away games of the season. The Spanish players’ union (AFE) and several players publicly condemned the idea in recent days.
Sanctions Never Fully Granted
In its announcement, LaLiga defended the project, claiming that “the match fully complied with all federative regulations and did not affect the integrity of the competition,” while suggesting that certain football authorities had opposed it “for other reasons.”
However, the league’s statement painted an incomplete picture. Although the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) gave tentative approval and UEFA reluctantly followed suit, neither the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) nor Concacaf — the governing bodies responsible for authorising official matches on U.S. soil — ever sanctioned the event.
LaLiga president Javier Tebas had insisted earlier this month that final approvals were a mere “administrative formality.” But Concacaf quickly issued a statement contradicting that view, clarifying that the proposal required a full review process involving multiple stakeholders and would not be rushed.
Concacaf’s position reflected wider concerns about maintaining the football ecosystem in North America — where the priority remains strengthening domestic leagues, clubs, and regional competitions rather than hosting foreign league matches for commercial gain.
Pressure Mounts, Partners Step Back
While UEFA’s eventual approval was given due to what it described as “legal ambiguity” in FIFA’s regulations, the European governing body reportedly remained uneasy about the precedent such a move could set. FIFA, for its part, is currently reviewing its statutes on cross-border domestic league matches.
With tickets already on pre-sale for the Miami clash, the cancellation underscores the project’s deep commercial and political challenges. Though LaLiga did not disclose how many tickets were sold, it is widely believed that sales were underwhelming amid the backlash.
In a separate statement, Relevent Sports confirmed it had informed LaLiga of the need “to postpone” the match, citing “insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale” amid the growing uncertainty in Spain.
For Relevent, which recently signed a major commercial partnership with UEFA to sell Champions League media rights, the cancellation may prove a convenient resolution to an increasingly uncomfortable situation that risked creating conflicts of interest.
LaLiga’s Broader Struggle for Global Growth
In defending the Miami project, LaLiga took aim at both the Premier League and UEFA, arguing that such overseas initiatives were vital to remain competitive in global football’s commercial landscape.
“While the Premier League and UEFA continue to expand their reach and ability to generate revenue, initiatives like this are essential to ensure the sustainability and growth of Spanish soccer,” the league said.
LaLiga argued that hosting official matches abroad would “strengthen the international presence of clubs and players” and enhance visibility in “a strategic market such as the United States.”
However, critics note that unlike LaLiga, neither the Premier League nor UEFA have attempted to stage official competitions on U.S. soil purely for financial reasons.
