La Liga Cancels Plan To Host Barcelona Vs Villarreal Match In Miami

Spanish La Liga has called off its plan to stage the Barcelona versus Villarreal match in Miami, United States, ending hopes of hosting the first-ever European league fixture outside the continent.

The Spanish top flight had scheduled the La Liga game for December 20 at the Hard Rock Stadium, but growing criticism from clubs, players, and officials has led to its cancellation.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the league confirmed that the promoter behind the project had withdrawn because of what it described as “uncertainty surrounding Spain in recent weeks.”

“Following discussions with the promoter of the official LaLiga match in Miami, the latter has announced its decision to cancel the event due to the uncertainty surrounding Spain in recent weeks,” the statement read.

“LaLiga deeply regrets that this project, which represented a historic and unparalleled opportunity for the internationalization of Spanish football, cannot go ahead.”

The decision brings an end, at least for now, to La Liga’s long-running effort to take competitive league games abroad.

Naija News reports that the league president Javier Tebas has been pushing to expand Spanish football’s global presence and boost commercial appeal, but the plan has repeatedly faced opposition from players’ unions and governing bodies.

With the Miami venture now off the table, Barcelona’s meeting with Villarreal will take place in Spain as originally planned, maintaining the traditional format of home and away fixtures in the league.