Barcelona and Villarreal Set to Play in Miami

The UEFA has officially approved the request to hold the La Liga match between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, USA, on December 20. 

The decision comes in response to a proposal submitted by La Liga, despite UEFA’s long-standing opposition to domestic league games being played outside their home countries.

In its statement, UEFA described the move as a temporary and exceptional approval, granted after extensive consultations with various stakeholders.

“UEFA reiterates its general opposition to holding domestic league matches outside their home countries. 

This approach still lacks sufficient support from fans, clubs, players, and European institutions,” the statement read.

UEFA explained that its decision was influenced by the lack of a clear regulatory framework from FIFA, which is currently under review. 

As a result, UEFA has granted temporary approval to the joint request from the Spanish and Italian football federations.

The statement concluded by emphasizing UEFA’s commitment to helping shape future regulations that protect the integrity of domestic competitions and preserve the traditional ties between clubs and their local fanbases.

In addition to the La Liga match, UEFA has also greenlit a Serie A clash between Como and AC Milan, to be held in Perth, Australia, marking another rare instance of a European domestic game being played outside the continent.