By Barcelona are set to receive an update from UEFA by September 11 regarding their controversial plan to play a La Liga fixture in the United States. Hansi Flick’s side did not feature in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid representing Spain.
The Catalan club have proposed staging a league match against Villarreal in December at Inter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, a move that would mark a historic first for both Barcelona and La Liga. The plan has faced widespread criticism, and several regulatory hurdles remain.
At the beginning of August, the Spanish FA (RFEF) and La Liga informed UEFA of their approval for the initiative and requested the start of the formal process to allow a competitive domestic match to be played outside Spain.
“We submitted to UEFA a request to initiate procedures for authorisation by FIFA of the game on Matchday 17 of the National First Division League Championship between Barcelona and Villarreal to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, on December 20, 2025, in accordance with FIFA International Match Regulations and the implementing regulations approved by the RFEF,” the governing bodies said in a statement.
According to Mundo Deportivo, UEFA will deliver its decision regarding whether the Villarreal vs Barcelona La Liga fixture can legally be played in Miami on September 11.
The move represents Barcelona’s third attempt to stage a La Liga fixture in the United States, but the club will still require UEFA’s approval, despite FIFA having already given its consent. According to Marca, the matter will be resolved at UEFA’s next Executive Committee meeting on September 11 in Tirana.
That meeting will also determine the venue for the 2027 Champions League final, with Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano competing against the Olympic Stadium in Baku.
Los Rojiblancos previously hosted the 2019 final, when Liverpool defeated Tottenham 2-0 in the Spanish capital. The 2025/26 final has already been awarded to the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.
