MADRID – The Spanish league is finally set to play a regular-season game in the United States.
La Liga president Javier Tebas announced on Wednesday in Miami that arrangements are “nearly complete” for Villarreal and Barcelona to compete at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Dec. 20.
While attending a sports summit in Miami, Tebas remarked it can be confirmed that “an official Spanish league game is set to take place in Miami between Villarreal and Barcelona.”
Tebas and the league have long pursued a regular-season game abroad, initially trying in 2018 with a Barcelona versus Girona match. However, this was halted due to criticism from players, fans, and clubs. Further attempts were unsuccessful until UEFA granted approval on Monday for the match, despite fan opposition across Europe.
The European governing body did not challenge plans by both the Spanish league and the Italian league, which is planning for AC Milan to play Como in Australia next year.
UEFA attributed the absence of opposition to the lack of clear guidelines from FIFA, as these games are viewed by many fans as potentially severing teams’ local connections.
The Spanish football federation, previously against the idea of holding league matches abroad, has approved La Liga’s proposal this year under its current leadership.
Staging a match abroad has long been part of the league’s goal of promoting soccer and its brand in other countries. To help achieve the goal, a few years ago it signed a long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross’ portfolio of companies including Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, the Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament.
Plans for the La Liga game in Miami were renewed after FIFA withdrew from a legal action brought by Relevent in a Manhattan court. Weeks later, FIFA said it would review its rules and created a working group that includes UEFA lawyers.
Relevent has since become a key commercial partner of UEFA and the influential European Club Association, being entrusted this year to sell six years’ worth of commercial rights for the Champions League and other continental competitions through 2033.
Villarreal, playing in the Champions League this season, would nominally be the home team for the match in Miami, though Barcelona fans should be the vast majority at Hard Rock Stadium. Former Barcelona star Lionel Messi is the main attraction at Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer.
Villarreal had said its season ticket-holders can travel for free and receive free tickets for the match. It said those who don’t want to go, or can’t go, will get a 20% discount on their season tickets.
Games abroad have become routine in U.S. pro sports leagues — with the NFL playing in several European cities — but still jar with European soccer culture which thrives on tribal rivalries and fans of visiting teams being in the stadium.
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