Lionel Messi Lamine Yamal GFXGetty Images/Goal
Soham Mukherjee

Lamine Yamal on his way to Miami?! La Liga hoping to play Villarreal vs Barcelona in Lionel Messi's new home

Spanish football could be on the brink of a groundbreaking moment and it’s FC Barcelona leading the charge. According to reports in Sport, the Catalan club is pushing for its December league fixture against Villarreal to be staged not in Spain, but under the Florida sun at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium. If approved, it would mark the first official La Liga match ever played outside Spain.

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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is set to meet tomorrow to decide whether the ambitious plan goes forward. The proposal, to be tabled Monday, will request UEFA’s backing for the December 20 clash, which is currently part of Matchday 17 in the 2025/26 La Liga calendar. Should European football’s governing body give the green light, the matter would then move up to FIFA, which ultimately holds the authority to approve or reject domestic matches taking place abroad. 

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Under the current fixture list, Barcelona are due to face Villarreal at the Estadio de La Ceramica on December 20. The reverse fixture at the Spotify Camp Nou is scheduled for March 1, 2026. But Barca’s latest push would see the first meeting swapped for a spectacle in Miami, home to Lionel Messi. That week is free from European competition, and while the Copa del Rey’s Round of 32 is pencilled in for December 16-18, the schedule could be reshaped to give both teams the travel time they’d need to cross the Atlantic and prepare.

  • TELL ME MORE

    La Liga president Javier Tebas has made no secret of his desire to take Spanish football to an international audience. And by the looks of it, it might become reality in the 2025/26 campaign. There have been reports that FIFA have accepted that leagues may play one official match per season overseas, which will further aid Tebas' endeavours. 

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  • DID YOU KNOW?

    UEFA must first give the thumbs-up, ensuring the match complies with European competition guidelines, before FIFA delivers the ultimate ruling on whether La Liga can break new ground. It’s a high-stakes process, but insiders suggest the international governing bodies may be more open than in previous years, especially with other leagues also exploring global expansion.

  • GFX Lamine Yamal Lionel MessiGetty/GOAL

    WHAT NEXT?

    If Villarreal and Barcelona do run out in Miami, it could be the first ripple in a wave of similar ventures. Other major leagues, from Serie A to the Premier League, have flirted with the idea of taking competitive matches abroad, lured by new markets, sponsorship opportunities, and global fan engagement. For Barcelona, the commercial appeal is obvious. Florida boasts a huge Spanish-speaking population, a thriving football fan base, and a state-of-the-art stadium capable of hosting a truly elite spectacle.

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