Chalien Dantes/Contributed

Real Madrid have strongly opposed a proposal to move Villarreal’s upcoming La Liga clash with Barcelona to the United States, calling it a move that sets an unacceptable precedent and threatens the integrity of the competition.

The match, currently scheduled for December 21 at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, was approved by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Monday (August 11) to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami—the same venue set to host seven games at the 2026 World Cup.

The RFEF is now seeking formal approval from FIFA and UEFA to finalise the move.

But Real Madrid have made their stance crystal clear, releasing a statement expressing their strongest rejection of the proposal. The club argued that allowing Villarreal to play their home fixture abroad would distort the league’s competitive balance and give an unfair advantage to the clubs involved.

Real Madrid also urged FIFA not to authorise the match unless all La Liga clubs are consulted and agreed, and called on UEFA to pressure the RFEF into withdrawing the request altogether.

Villarreal president Fernando Roig, however, sees the move differently. He described the opportunity to play in the US as something the club must seize, hinting at the financial and global exposure benefits of such a high-profile game abroad.

Current FIFA regulations prohibit domestic league matches from being played outside of their home countries, although a working group was set up last year to revisit the rule. A similar proposal by La Liga in 2023  to host a Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid match in Miami was eventually dropped due to time constraints.

Barcelona are due to host Villarreal in the reverse fixture at Camp Nou on March 1, 2026, adding another layer of concern for Madrid over the balance of home and away matches.

The idea of exporting league games isn’t entirely new. Other competitions, like the Spanish and Italian Super Cups, have been held abroad in recent years. Meanwhile, AC Milan are exploring plans to move their Serie A game against Como to Perth, Australia, due to the Winter Olympics taking over the San Siro for its opening ceremony. That proposal is still awaiting approval from FIFA, UEFA, and other governing bodies.