Lamine Yamal close to Miami as La Liga, RFEF approve Villarreal-Barcelona despite captains’ opposition

Lamine Yamal could soon make his first appearance in North America, as part of European soccer’s growing push to stage games in the United States. With only a few steps remaining before official confirmation, La Liga and the RFEF (Spanish Football Federation) have taken a major leap forward by giving the green light for Villarreal vs. FC Barcelona to be played in Miami.

Similar to the NBA and NFL’s expansion into international markets, European soccer has long explored the idea of staging competitive fixtures abroad. La Liga has been among the most eager, but for years ran into roadblocks from the RFEF and FIFA, both of which prohibited league games from being played outside their home country until just over a year ago.

After years of discussion, the RFEF’s Board of Directors has now approved the request to host the Villarreal–Barcelona clash in Miami. The match, scheduled for Matchday 17, is targeted for December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium, marking a potential first in La Liga history.

La Liga and the RFEF have already agreed on the venue, the matchup, and the date. The proposal will now be submitted to UEFA for regional approval before moving on to FIFA, which will have the final say on whether the game goes ahead.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has long championed the idea of bringing an official game to the US. The first attempt came in the 2018–19 season, while the closest call was in 2024–25 with a planned Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid match that was ultimately postponed. Now, with domestic governing bodies finally aligned, it may be only a matter of time before Yamal’s Barcelona face Villarreal in Miami.

Pushback from players’ representatives

With UEFA and FIFA now the only formal hurdles for staging the match in Miami, player resistance could still threaten the project. The push to expand La Liga’s footprint on American soil has reportedly left those on the field in the dark about key details of the event.

According to Diario AS, RFEF vice president and players’ union (AFE) president David Aganzo has voiced strong opposition, criticizing the lack of player input in the decision-making process. Neither Villarreal’s nor Barcelona’s captains have been informed about the plan, despite the governing bodies already giving their approval.