Real Madrid issued a strong statement rejecting plans to hold the first-ever La Liga match in the United States, scheduled to be played between Barcelona and Villarreal.
The Spanish Football Federation announced its acceptance of the proposal to hold the Villarreal vs. Barcelona match at the end of 2025 at MetLife Stadium in Miami, and has instructed UEFA and FIFA to obtain the necessary approvals.
In recent hours, several Spanish clubs have expressed their objection to this idea, which clearly undermines competition.
Real Madrid’s reaction was even stronger, issuing a statement on Tuesday clarifying its rejection of the idea of hosting a match outside Spain. The club explained this by stating that not holding the first or second leg between two teams at their home stadium would fundamentally alter the fairness of the competition and create inequality.
In its statement, Real Madrid appealed to UEFA and FIFA to halt the idea until all clubs unanimously approve it and adhere to domestic competition rules.
Real Madrid also sent a letter to the Spanish High Commission for Sport to oppose the idea, citing its potential negative impact on the future of La Liga.
It’s worth noting that Barcelona and Villarreal were the first to agree to hold their matches at MetLife Stadium instead of La Cerámica, given the significant revenue that would accrue to both clubs from the trip.
