La Liga has abandoned plans to stage next month’s match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the United States, although the Spanish top flight still intends to host overseas domestic matches abroad future.
Miami had been named as the venue for the match, a Barcelona home game, on December 22, a decision that reportedly sparked significant controversy. No major European league has hosted a competitive match in the United States, although the idea has become normalized in some circles as clubs seek revenue from their vast global fans.
Now La Liga, which would have needed permission from Fifa, UEFA and the Spanish Football Federation to make the change, admitted that December would be too early to break the mold by hosting a fixture as expensive almost 4,500 miles away. The Guardian understands he remains keen to spread his wings abroad, with another attempt likely next season.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has long expressed his desire to hold some league matches abroad, saying in April that this “could happen in the 2025-2026 season”. The North American market is fertile ground for top Spanish clubs, but the Premier League, in particular, presents intense competition.
Six months ago, Fifa began a review of its policy regarding regular season league matches in overseas territories, after reaching an agreement with US-based event promoter Relevent Sports, in an antitrust lawsuit filed by the company. The case arose after Fifa blocked an attempt by La Liga and Relevent to stage a match between Girona and Barcelona in Miami six years ago.
Any change in Fifa’s rules would open the door wide for La Liga, or any other league, to break with decades of tradition and hold domestic matches abroad. Premier League clubs are also believed to be closely monitoring developments, although the English top division has claimed it currently has no plans to decamp.