Real Madrid Opposes La Liga Match in the US
Real Madrid has firmly rejected proposals to play Villarreal's La Liga match against Barcelona in the United States, stating that it "sets an unacceptable precedent."
The match is scheduled for December 21 at Villarreal's Estadio de la Ceramica, but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved the plan on Monday to host the game in America.
The RFEF is now seeking permission from FIFA and UEFA to relocate the match to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is set to host seven matches during the 2026 World Cup.
However, Real Madrid has expressed its "strongest rejection of the proposal" to play the match outside of Spain.
In a statement, the club emphasized, "If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mark a turning point in the world of football."
The Spanish Football Supporters' Association (FASFE) has joined fan groups from Barcelona and Villarreal in voicing their strong opposition to the proposal, warning that they would "take appropriate legal action" if it proceeds.
Despite the backlash, Villarreal president Fernando Roig stated on the club's website that the opportunity in the U.S. is one they "must seize." He added, "We have to expand the brand of our football and of Villarreal CF. Many clubs agree on the need to internationalize and seek ways to generate more revenue to compete with other leagues, such as the Premier League."
Currently, FIFA rules prohibit domestic league matches from being played abroad, but a working group was established last year to explore the possibility.
Last year, La Liga expressed interest in hosting Barcelona's match against Atletico Madrid in Miami but ultimately abandoned the idea due to time constraints.
Real Madrid, which has won a record 36 La Liga titles, argued that Villarreal playing a home fixture away from their stadium would "alter the competitive balance and grant an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs." Barcelona is set to face Villarreal at the Nou Camp on March 1, 2026.
Real Madrid further stated, "The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be held under the same conditions for all teams. Unilaterally modifying this regime undermines equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results, and sets an unacceptable precedent that could lead to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting, jeopardizing competitive integrity and the risk of altering the competition."
The club has requested that FIFA not authorize the game without the prior consent of all La Liga clubs and has urged UEFA to encourage the RFEF to withdraw the request.
Other one-off matches, such as the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup, have been held abroad in recent years. Meanwhile, with the San Siro hosting the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February, AC Milan hopes to play their Serie A match against Como in Perth, Australia, as the two events coincide. However, these plans have yet to receive approval from FIFA, UEFA, Football Australia, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).