The scenario indicating that the match between Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona could be played in Miami, United States, is gaining more and more detractors. This commitment corresponds to matchday 17 of LaLiga 2025/26, and the latest to join the group of those who do not accept this initiative is the UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin.

Despite this, on September 11, the Executive Committee of the highest body will hold a key meeting in Tirana (Albania) to make a final decision on the commitment. 

Before that, Ceferin has made his position clear in an interview granted to the Belgian media 'Politico', held in Monte Carlo, a city that has hosted the draw for the league phase of the Champions League, the Europa League, and the Conference League.

"European teams should play in Europe. We will open this discussion also with FIFA and with all the federations, because I don't think it's a good thing. Well, if it's an exception, fine; if there's a reason, fine (...). It's a great tradition," Ceferin pointed out.

The match that divides Europe: UEFA vs. Villarreal-Barça in Miami

In this sense, according to recent information, UEFA has also activated its legal mechanisms to assess whether it can block the celebration of the two matches that have generated controversy.

The first is the Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami, which in principle should be played between December 20 and 21. However, this possibility is still up in the air. Even more so now with UEFA involved.

The second commitment corresponds to AC Milan-Como 1907 in Perth (Australia), scheduled for February 6. While in Italy a general consensus has been reached among the clubs regarding the match in Oceania, the panorama in Spain is more tense. Real Madrid has expressed its firm opposition to the match in Miami through an official statement.

“Madrid wants to express its firm rejection of the proposal to play the match corresponding to matchday 17 of the National First Division League Championship between Villarreal C. F. and F. C. Barcelona outside of Spain,” the 'Casa Blanca' stated in a part of the letter.

The European Commission and the AFE stand up to LaLiga

In this context, the initiative proposed by the president of LaLiga, Javier Tebas, and endorsed by the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), in addition to the discontent of UEFA and Madrid, has also received opposition from the European Commission and the Spanish Footballers Association (AFE).

The AFE expressed its rejection through a statement, while Glenn Micallef, Commissioner for Intergenerational Equity, Youth, Culture, and Sports of the European Commission, through X, stated that he felt "disappointed" and that "European competitions must be played in Europe."

All of this is against Javier Tebas, LaLiga, and the RFEF to be able to carry out the Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami. It remains to be seen how the irruption of UEFA ends.