UEFA gives green light to Villarreal vs Barcelona in Miami

UEFA has given the green light for the LaLiga match between Villarreal and Barcelona to be played outside Spain. Exceptionally, the European body has admitted the request for the match to be played in Miami

UEFA has decided to give the go-ahead to the two requests to play matches outside their country, namely those of Villarreal-Barcelona and AC Milan-Como. After the meeting of its Executive Committee in Tirana last month, UEFA held further consultations with stakeholders to assess the scope of the implications of the matter, following requests it received from the national football associations of Spain and Italy.

That consultation confirmed the widespread lack of support already expressed by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions around the concept of moving domestic league matches abroad.

However, since the relevant FIFA regulatory framework, which is currently under review, is not sufficiently clear or detailed, the UEFA Executive Committee has decided to exceptionally approve the two requests submitted to it. UEFA will actively contribute to FIFA's ongoing work to ensure that future regulations preserve the integrity of national competitions and the close relationship between clubs, their fans and local communities.

At the same time, all UEFA's national federations confirmed their commitment to work with UEFA before submitting future applications. They expressed their collective determination to safeguard the overall interests of European football.

"This is an exceptional decision and not a precedent"

When announcing the decision, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: "League matches should be played at home; anything else would deprive loyal fans of their rights and could introduce distorting elements into the competitions. Our consultation confirmed the magnitude of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible commitment on such a sensitive issue."

League matches should be played at home; anything else would disenfranchise loyal fans

Aleksander Ceferin

"While it is unfortunate to have to suspend the staging of these two matches, this decision is exceptional and should not be considered a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains rooted in its local environment," he added.

FIFA has already given the OK to the match in Miami

After UEFA's hidden approval for league matches to be played outside the corresponding country, that is, for the Villarreal-Barcelona match to take place in Miami, there is no longer any obstacle for such a match to be the first LaLiga match to be played outside Spanish territory.

UEFA has looked for legal arguments against the match being played in the conditions desired by both teams and the Spanish football employers, but has not found them. The reason is clear and is due to the rule that FIFA changed two years ago regarding the possibility of playing matches outside the country of origin.

FIFA does not have to approve the dispute between Villarreal-Barcelona and Milan-Como. The formality indicates this, but it was the world's governing body that opened the door for such matches to be played in other countries. It was not an arbitrary and capricious decision, as it was endorsed by the FIFA Council held in May 2024.

For this reason, the match, which, as this newspaper reported, will not have any legal impediments, will be played in Miami. FIFA has already given the OK to this move at the aforementioned Council and now all that remains is to seal the permits. Nothing more.