Spain’s Professional Soccer Association (AFE) and the 20 LaLiga team captains have voiced strong opposition to the proposed Barcelona vs Villarreal match in Miami, set for December at Hard Rock Stadium.
The players argue that LaLiga has failed to provide sufficient information or engage in meaningful dialogue about staging a domestic league fixture outside Spain. They made it clear that they do not want plans to take games overseas.
© Aitor AlcaldeCaptains against overseas matches
On Thursday, August 21st, 2025, all 20 LaLiga captains met to discuss the league’s request to play the Villarreal home fixture against Barcelona in the United States. According to the AFE, the lack of communication and clarity from LaLiga made it impossible to support the plan.
LaLiga has been pushing since 2018 to take official matches abroad, with clubs such as Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, and Barcelona previously expressing openness to the idea. However, the players made their stance clear in a joint statement.
© Angel Martinez“Backed by the captains of the LaLiga clubs, AFE opposes playing a league game outside of Spain,” the statement read. “The captains of every team met on Thursday to discuss the request, as announced by the Spanish Football Federation [RFEF] earlier in August, for a game to be played outside of the country, which was submitted to UEFA and FIFA.”
AFE calling for respect
The AFE asked for a detailed report from LaLiga to inform the players. What it go instead was only an update on the progress of the authorization process, without addressing concerns about logistics or how it would affect players.
“In view of this situation, given the lack of dialogue and information provided, the initiation of a project promoted by LaLiga and approved without any information by the RFEF is disrespectful to the players, as it involves changes at a sporting level in addition to travel outside the country as workers within the framework of a domestic league,” the statement continued.
© Octavio PassosFIFA and UEFA are yet to approve
The RFEF has already agreed to submit the proposal to both FIFA and UEFA, with Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium under consideration for the December 20th weekend fixture. However, final approval has not been granted.
The pushback from AFE comes shortly after Real Madrid also rejected supporting the overseas plan. The players’ union concluded firmly, “We are united. We want respect and transparency.
© Angel MartinezWith this message, AFE demands that the Spanish institutions involved provide all the information on a project that would alter the competition.
"This is something that requires dialogue, negotiation and prior agreement with all stakeholders and, fundamentally, with the main players, which are us.”
