La Liga Wants Barcelona vs Atletico Match in Miami
This is not the first time La Liga has made attempts to take Spanish football to the U.S. In 2019, there was a proposal to stage a match between Barcelona and Girona in Miami. However, that idea was abandoned due to opposition from Spain’s football association and the players' union, who argued that playing abroad would disrupt the domestic calendar and cause logistical issues for players and fans alike.
La Liga is looking to stage Barcelona's highly anticipated league fixture against Atletico Madrid in Miami on 22 December, marking a potential first for the Spanish football league in the United States. The plan, however, is contingent on receiving final approval from FIFA, the governing body of world football.
This push to host the game abroad is part of La Liga president Javier Tebas' broader strategy to globalize the league by bringing matches to new audiences. Tebas has been vocal about his desire to host games outside of Spain, seeing it as a way to grow La Liga’s brand internationally. The move would mirror other major leagues around the world that have sought to expand their global footprint by playing competitive matches overseas.
In April, FIFA withdrew from a legal case involving Relevent, a major match promoter, which had been seeking to host Spanish league matches in the U.S. Following this, FIFA announced it was creating a working group to assess the potential effects of playing domestic matches abroad. The decision on whether to proceed with the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid match in Miami will ultimately be in FIFA’s hands.
Despite the hurdles, La Liga remains hopeful. Sources close to the league suggest that while there are still challenges to overcome, they are optimistic that the match will receive the necessary approval to go ahead. If successful, it could pave the way for more Spanish matches being played internationally in the future.
The Premier League, by contrast, has stated that it has no intention of following suit and staging matches overseas, making La Liga's potential move to Miami a unique step in football's international growth.
La Liga’s ambition to go global reflects the evolving nature of football as clubs and leagues look to expand their reach and tap into new markets. If approved, the Barcelona-Atletico Madrid fixture could set a precedent for more top-tier domestic games being played outside their home countries.
