Real Madrid Slams Plan to Move Villarreal–Barcelona Match to Miami, Threatens Legal Action
Real Madrid has issued a fierce statement rejecting the proposal to host the La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona (Matchday 17) at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, 2025. The club argues the move would distort competitive fairness, breach tradition, and set a dangerous precedent for Spanish football.
Madrid insists that staging a domestic league match abroad gives both Villarreal and Barcelona advantages unavailable to other clubs — such as unique commercial exposure, altered travel schedules, and a different match atmosphere that could affect performance. They accuse La Liga and the RFEF of prioritizing business interests over sporting integrity.
The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has already sent the proposal to UEFA for review, prompting Madrid to appeal directly to FIFA, urging them to block it unless all La Liga clubs agree. They have also called on UEFA and Spain’s Higher Sports Council to intervene.
This isn’t the first attempt to take La Liga abroad — similar efforts in 2019 and 2024 involving Barcelona were blocked. While some leagues like Serie A are pursuing overseas matches for global reach, Madrid views the idea as a betrayal of competitive fairness and fan traditions.
Given Barcelona’s involvement, Madrid believes the move would hand their rivals a mid-season marketing boost and potentially influence sporting results. The club warns it is ready to pursue all legal channels, including sports arbitration, to keep the game in Spain.
With FIFA now holding the final say, the dispute has become one of Spanish football’s most heated off-field battles in years — pitting globalization ambitions against the defense of tradition.