Key Takeaways:
- The Barcelona versus Villarreal league match, initially scheduled for 20 December in Miami, will now be held in Spain following a late reversal
- UEFA had granted approval, but the event was cancelled due to insufficient preparation time from organiser Relevent
- Players protested the overseas plan in the previous La Liga round by refusing to play for the opening 15 seconds, prompting broadcasters to omit this period from coverage
Match Relocation Confirmed After Last-Minute Turnaround
The highly anticipated fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal, which had been slated for 20 December in Miami, USA, will instead be played on Spanish soil due to a late change in circumstances. The proposal to stage a domestic fixture outside Spain was considered groundbreaking, with league officials and the involved clubs showing strong support given the significant financial implications. After UEFA granted their consent, only FIFA’s approval remained outstanding. However, just as final arrangements were being made, news emerged that the fixture would not proceed in Miami.
Villarreal 🆚 Barcelona in Miami is OFF 🇺🇸❌
La Liga has made the decision due to the "uncertainty generated in Spain" after the announcement to have a Spanish league match take place in the USA. pic.twitter.com/VoPVBfkgOC
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 21, 2025
Organisational Issues Force Cancellation
La Liga’s chosen partner, Relevent, which is led by Miami Dolphins owner Stephen M. Ross, revealed that it could not finalise all organisational requirements in time.
“Relevent informed La Liga that it is necessary to postpone the match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami on December 20. Given the uncertainty in Spain, there is not enough time to properly organise an event of such magnitude. It would be irresponsible to start selling tickets without the match being confirmed,” announced the company.
While Relevent referenced postponement, La Liga issued a statement confirming the outright cancellation “due to recent uncertainty in Spain”. The league lamented the missed opportunity for Spanish football’s international growth, describing the initiative as a historic chance to extend the competition’s global reach and elevate the international profile of its clubs, players, and brand, particularly in the strategic United States market.
Player Protests and Dissenting Stakeholders
Player dissent was evident in the previous round of La Liga as teams staged a visible protest by remaining static for the first 15 seconds after kick-off. The league subsequently asked broadcasters not to air these initial moments.
The Barcelona camp, spearheaded by president Joan Laporta, remained steadfast in pursuit of the Miami project amid vigorous objection from Real Madrid. The Madrid club took its case to FIFA to halt the plans, drawing a pointed response from Laporta:
“Real Madrid can say whatever it wants and will do as it pleases, but I am the president of Barcelona and we are going to play in Miami on December 20.”
