Barcelona secured a 5-1 victory over Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica last season.
Real Madrid has voiced strong opposition to proposals for Villarreal’s La Liga match against Barcelona to be played in the United States, citing that it “sets an unacceptable precedent.”
The fixture is currently scheduled for December 21 at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica. However, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) approved a proposal on Monday to potentially host the game in America.
The RFEF will now seek authorization from Fifa and Uefa to relocate the match to the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, which is slated 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 an official statement, the club, external stated: “If this proposal is carried out, its consequences would be so serious that they would mean a before and after for the world of football.”
The Spanish football supporters’ association (FASFE) has joined Barcelona and Villarreal fan groups in clearly opposing the proposal, warning they would “take appropriate legal action” if it proceeds.
However, Villarreal president Fernando Roig stated on the club’s website that the US opportunity is something they “must seize.”
“We have to expand the brand of our football and of Villarreal CF,” he added.
“Many clubs agree on the need to internationalise and to look for ways to generate more revenue so we can get closer to other leagues, such as the Premier League.”
Fifa’s current regulations do not permit domestic league matches to be played abroad, but last year it established a working group to explore the matter.
Will Premier League host games abroad like rivals?
Spanish FA approves plans for La Liga match in USA
Last year, La Liga expressed interest in holding Barcelona’s match with Atletico Madrid in Miami, but the idea was abandoned due to time constraints.
Real Madrid, holding a record 36 La Liga titles, stated that Villarreal playing their home fixture away from their stadium would be “altering the competitive balance and granting an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs.”
Barcelona is scheduled to face Villarreal at the Nou Camp on March 1, 2026.
“The integrity of the competition requires that all matches be held under the same conditions for all teams,” Real Madrid added in their statement.
“Unilaterally modifying this regime breaks the equality between contenders, compromises the legitimacy of the results and sets an unacceptable precedent that opens the door to exceptions based on interests other than strictly sporting, with a clear impact on sporting integrity and the risk of adulteration of the competition.”
The club said it had asked Fifa not to authorise the staging of the game without the prior consent of all La Liga clubs, and asked Uefa to urge 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.
With the San Siro hosting the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February, AC Milan are hoping to play their Serie A match against Como in Perth, Australia, as the two events clash.
However, these plans are yet to receive approval from Fifa, Uefa, Football Australia, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast