The planned match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal, which was to take place on December 20 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, has been officially canceled. LaLiga has thus backed away from an ambitious project that was to be the first league match ever played outside Europe.
The decision comes after a strong wave of resistance from players, coaches, and fans. Over the weekend, several teams joined the protest by standing for 15 seconds after the opening whistle, expressing their disagreement with the commercial transfer of the match outside Spain.
LaLiga stated in its announcement that “due to the uncertainty that has arisen in Spain in recent weeks, the organization of the event has been canceled.” The match promoter, Relevent, confirmed that it was not possible to secure all the necessary guarantees for the smooth running of the event.
The match was supposed to be part of a broader strategy to internationalize Spanish soccer, but it ran into legislative and ethical barriers. Although the project had the support of some clubs, the AFE players’ union and several soccer personalities sharply criticized it. The cancellation of the match in Miami thus represents a victory for sporting principles over commercial interests. LaLiga will have to find new ways to expand globally – but this time with greater respect for players and fans.
