La Liga game shifts to Miami could set a new trend

The US-hosted regular-season match would be the first played since FIFA and Relevent Sports settled their lawsuit.

Spain federation approves plan to move Villarreal v Barcelona La Liga match to Miami

The Spanish Football Federation has approved La Liga's plan to relocate one of the season's fixtures between Villarreal and Barcelona to Miami, with Hard Rock Stadium named as the venue. If FIFA, UEFA, US Soccer, and Concacaf sign off, the December 21 date could shift from Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica to the Miami venue, likely requiring changes to the NFL game schedule that same weekend.

The move follows the resolution of a long-running lawsuit between FIFA and Relevent Sports, a promoter founded by Stephen Ross that has pursued U.S. exhibition matches and later struck a broader deal with UEFA for global marketing and rights sales. The settlement clears a path for cross‑continental fixtures but raises questions about governance, travel, and the future pace of European football in the United States.

The plan exposes a layered governance challenge. Approval from FIFA, UEFA, US Soccer, and Concacaf means multiple bodies must align on scheduling, financial terms, and broadcast arrangements, any of which could delay or alter the proposal. It also reframes how clubs balance travel demands against market expansion and fan engagement in non-traditional markets.

Financial and promotional incentives are clear. Relevent’s involvement, along with the Miami stadiums’ ownership ties, signals a larger push to monetize the US fan base and grow European soccer’s global footprint. Yet the move could trigger backlash from traditional home fans, complicate league calendars, and draw scrutiny over costs and risk sharing between public and private partners.

Highlights

The next steps will test how far football’s market gravity can bend traditional schedules.