No to the USA? Barcelona's plans to play La Liga game with Atletico Madrid in Miami 'put on hold'

La Liga president Javier Tebas has long made it clear his desire to see a Spanish top-flight game played in the United States. Barcelona's December clash with Atletico was the latest fixture slated to be taken over the Atlantic and played at Miami's Hard Rock Stadium. However, those plans are now "on hold" due to the time constraints involved in switching the game from Catalunya to North America, according to ESPN. La Liga needs to get the green light from FIFA, UEFA, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), U.S. Soccer, and CONCACAF to move a game abroad and there is simply not enough time now to get the required go-ahead.

The fixture is the latest attempt to play a La Liga match in the USA to fail. Plans to play Barcelona's clash with Girona and a game between Atletico and Villarreal in 2019 also fell through, largely due to the amount of hurdles that needed to be overcome. Indeed there was opposition from FIFA, among others, but subsequent litigation has offered hope that a game could be played in the US. Tebas said back in April that he was hopeful a La Liga fixture could be played in America next season.

Barcelona's fixture against Atletico Madrid is now set to take place at the Lluís Companys Olympic Stadium. The club had been hoping to return to their renovated Camp Nou by the turn of the year but may now have to wait until late January or February 2025 at the earliest due to setbacks in the building work.

Fans will have to wait and see if attempts to play La Liga games in the US finally gain approval next year. Plans to play Premier League games abroad, and even the Community Shield to the USA, have also been mooted but have been met with strong opposition from former players and club owners.