LaLiga assures a millionaire prize to Barcelona and Villarreal for playing in Miami

Villarreal and FC Barcelona will make history in December by playing the first LaLiga EA Sports match outside of Spanish territory. Despite the opposing stance of its president, Aleksander Ceferin, to authorize the holding of official first division matches outside their country of origin, UEFA finally gave the green light for the match between the Castellon team and the Blaugrana to be held in Miami.

While awaiting confirmation of the date (likely to be December 21) and official time of the match at the Hard Rock Stadium, Villarreal and Barça have already secured a millionaire-dollar prize for what will be the last match of both teams in the year 2025. Immediately after, there will be a break for Christmas and New Year's, until the weekend of January 2-4.

The Barça will receive around 5 million euros for playing in Miami

Pedri during the last Barça-Villarreal match in LaLiga.

According to information leaked by 'RAC1', Barcelona will receive around 5 million euros for playing matchday 17 in Miami. Villarreal, being the home team in that match, will receive a little more, close to 6 'kilos'. The match was supposed to be played at the Estadio de la Cerámica, and the 'Yellow Submarine' board has committed to paying for its members' trip to the United States.

Currently, the team managed by Marcelino García has 19,500 season ticket holders. Those who cannot travel to Miami will receive 20% of the total season ticket price as compensation for the match.

Considering that the Hard Rock Stadium has a capacity for 65,300 fans (41,800 more seats than La Cerámica), Barça will be able to count on ample support in the stands of the stadium that will also host the next World Cup.

In the 2022, 2023, and 2024 preseasons, Barça generated enormous expectation on American soil by playing their summer friendlies. This year, being an official match, the interest will be much greater. In addition, winter in Florida, unlike other states in the American union, is not so extreme in terms of snowfall and low temperatures.

Thus, Barcelona would be at home at Hard Rock Stadium, although, for official purposes, Villarreal will be the home team. Due to the new 'kit selector' regulations, it is very likely that the Barça players will wear their local kit in that match.

AFE Again Calls LaLiga Captains Regarding Villarreal-Barça in Miami

Beyond the fact that, finally, LaLiga and the RFEF have resolved the pending obstacles to move the Villarreal-Barça match to Miami, the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFE) has called another meeting with the 18 captains of the remaining teams in the Spanish First Division to ratify their rejection of the match in the United States.

On August 21, the AFE had already issued a statement with the support of the 18 captains against Javier Tebas' initiative. The footballers' arguments include the extra burden of preparing for a match abroad (more travel hours, longer concentration time), as well as the possibility of receiving a bonus for the match.

Likewise, the Superior Sports Council (CSD) will also announce its position shortly. Neither entity has the power to prevent Villarreal and Barcelona from playing in Miami, as there are no legal arguments to prevent LaLiga from moving matchdays outside the country.

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