LaLiga Confirms Date for Villarreal-FC Barcelona Match in Miami

LaLiga EA Sports has confirmed that the match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona, corresponding to matchday 17 of the 2025/26 season, will be held at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, United States. The league has already defined the date of the match, once UEFA approved the request made by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).

Finally, Castellón natives and Barça fans will play on Saturday, December 20th, at a time yet to be determined, the match that closes the calendar for both teams this 2025. Subsequently, the Christmas break will occur, extending until the first weekend of January 2026 (Friday the 2nd to Sunday the 4th).

1. 🗓️ Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025

2. ⏰ Time: to be confirmed

3. 🏟️ Where it's played: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, United States

## Javier Tebas Achieves a Goal He Had Pursued Since 2019

The president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, was the first to express his satisfaction for finally being able to take a LaLiga match to the United States, an objective he had been pursuing since the 2018/19 season.

The head of the employers' association hoped to take a Girona-Barça match to Miami (at the same Hard Rock Stadium), but FIFA ultimately denied authorization to the RFEF. In 2024, FIFA relaxed its regulations regarding the holding of official league matches abroad, which led Tebas to resume negotiations to take Barcelona to the United States.

Finally, Villarreal was the chosen opponent, with the 'Yellow Submarine' playing at home on matchday 17. Regarding the criticism generated by the initiative, Tebas assured that "taking our culture to other places does not make us lose tradition, but quite the opposite, it enhances it. We must not give space to demagoguery."

Likewise, he assured that the fans of Barça and Villarreal "will feel proud to be pioneers in taking LaLiga to another place." "If we were talking about 20 games, it would be crazy. But we are talking about one game."

Joan Laporta and Fernando Roig, happy to play in Miami

Previously, the presidents of FC Barcelona, Joan Laporta, and Villarreal, Fernando Roig, had expressed their support for an initiative they consider pertinent to expand the market of LaLiga and both clubs in North American territory.

Joan Laporta's official position:

"We are eager to meet again with all our fans in the United States and we thank La Liga for the opportunity to get closer to one of the main strategic markets for the Club. We have been visiting the country for many years and we have always felt the passion that FC Barcelona awakens"

Statements from Fernando Roig, president of Villarreal:

"With this initiative, we will be able to reach fans from other parts of the world and continue expanding the club's brand and La Liga's."

The 'Yellow Submarine' will be at home in the match of matchday 17, and the club's board confirmed the intention to pay for its members' trip to Miami. In addition, in the case of season ticket holders and members who cannot travel, they will receive a 20% refund of the total season ticket price as compensation for the match.

FC Barcelona's History in Miami

Before the Villarreal-Barça match on December 20, the Azulgrana team played four friendly matches in Miami, two of them at Hard Rock Stadium. The balance favors the Culés with three victories and one defeat, including a victory against Real Madrid in 2017 (3-2).

1. July 19, 2022: Inter Miami 0-6 FC Barcelona, Chase Stadium.
2. August 8, 2019: FC Barcelona 2-1 Napoli, Hard Rock Stadium.
3. July 29, 2017: Real Madrid 2-3 FC Barcelona, Hard Rock Stadium.
4. August 4, 2011: Chivas de Guadalajara 4-1 FC Barcelona, Hard Rock Stadium.