In a bold move to expand its global reach, La Liga is pushing for Barcelona’s December clash against Atletico Madrid to be staged in Miami, marking the first time a Spanish top-flight league match would be played in the United States. Scheduled for 22 December, just before La Liga’s winter break, the fixture could be a historic moment for football in North America. However, the proposal is still pending final approval from FIFA, the sport’s world governing body.
La Liga has long been eyeing opportunities to expand its international footprint, and this Miami proposal is the latest in a series of efforts by the Spanish league to bring its matches to a global audience. La Liga President Javier Tebas has been vocal about his desire to take league games beyond Spain’s borders in order to capitalize on the massive international following of teams like Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. By staging a match in the U.S., La Liga hopes to tap into the growing American soccer market and strengthen its global brand.
For Tebas, this is not the first attempt to organize a league match overseas. In 2019, Barcelona had planned to play Girona in Miami, but the idea was met with strong opposition from Spain’s football association and its players’ union, leading to the match being scrapped. Despite those setbacks, Tebas remains committed to the vision of exporting La Liga matches to other countries.
The fate of this ambitious plan lies in the hands of FIFA, which has the final say on whether the match can proceed. In 2023, FIFA set up a working group to examine the potential impact of staging competitive domestic league matches in foreign countries. This group’s findings will likely influence the decision on whether to allow Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid to be played in Miami.
La Liga’s efforts to play overseas have also faced legal challenges. Earlier this year, FIFA withdrew from a legal battle with Relevent, a leading match promoter, which is seeking to organize competitive matches in the U.S. These legal and regulatory hurdles highlight the complexities of bringing a domestic football match to international venues.
Both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are scheduled to compete in the Spanish Super Cup in early January 2024, which will be held in Saudi Arabia. This Miami fixture would come just before La Liga’s winter break, offering both teams an exciting opportunity to showcase their talent on American soil before they turn their attention to the Super Cup.
For fans in the U.S., this could be a rare chance to see some of the world’s best footballers, including Barcelona’s young stars and Atletico’s formidable lineup, up close. With soccer’s popularity on the rise in North America, particularly after the 2026 World Cup was awarded to the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, a La Liga match in Miami could further boost the sport’s profile.
While the prospect of a La Liga match in the U.S. is enticing to many, it has also drawn criticism from various quarters. In Spain, there has been resistance from the players’ union and football association, which argue that such a move could disrupt the domestic league’s integrity. Critics also contend that moving matches overseas prioritizes commercial interests over the needs of local fans and clubs.
Additionally, the logistics of moving a high-profile match to Miami, including travel schedules and potential fatigue for the players, could pose challenges. These concerns are amplified by the fact that both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have crucial fixtures in the weeks following the proposed Miami match, including their commitments in the Spanish Super Cup.
While La Liga continues its pursuit of international matches, the Premier League, another major European football league with a significant global following, has taken a different stance. The English league has consistently maintained that it has no plans to stage matches overseas, focusing instead on expanding its fanbase through digital media and international broadcast deals.
The Premier League’s approach highlights the ongoing debate within football about how best to grow the game globally. While some, like Tebas, see international matches as a way to engage fans in new markets, others believe that domestic competitions should remain within their national borders.
The outcome of La Liga’s proposal could have wide-reaching implications for football. If FIFA grants approval, it could open the door for other leagues to explore playing competitive matches abroad, particularly in countries with growing interest in soccer, like the United States. However, if the proposal is rejected, it may signal that domestic football is still firmly rooted in its home countries, despite the sport’s global appeal.
For now, La Liga remains hopeful, with sources close to the league indicating that while there is still work to be done, they are optimistic that FIFA will give the green light to the Miami match. Should it happen, the Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid game in Miami would not only be a groundbreaking moment for La Liga but also a significant milestone in football’s ongoing globalization.
As football continues to grow in popularity in North America, events like this could pave the way for more competitive matches to be staged across the globe, bringing the world’s most popular sport closer to its international fanbase.
