UEFA set decision date for Barcelona's USA La Liga match

Feargal Brennan

UEFA set decision date for Barcelona's USA La Liga match image

Barcelona are awaiting joint call from UEFA and FIFA on their controversial plan to play a La Liga game in the USA before the end of 2025.

The Catalan giants did not participate in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup in the US with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid acting as Spain's representatives.

However, the club have proposed an ambitious project to head across the Atlantic in December and create a historical first for a major European domestic league.

At the start of August, the Spanish FA [RFEF] and La Liga submitted a proposal to UEFA to start the process of allowing a competitive domestic game to be played outside Spain.

"We submitted to UEFA a request to initiate procedures for the authorisation by FIFA of the game on Matchday 17 of the National First Division League Championship between Barcelona and Villarreal to be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami USA, on December 20, 2025, according to FIFA International Match Regulations and the implementing regulations approved by the RFEF."

The move is Barcelona's third attempt to play a match in the USA but the latest try features firm backing from La Liga.

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Fans and opposition clubs are split over the idea amid concerns over 'competitive integrity' being endangered and the breaking of tradition in pursuit of a financial boost.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has leant his support to the proposal and UEFA have now confirmed the next stage of the process.

Lamine Yamal FC Barcelona 2025

As per Marca, the matter is on the agenda to be resolved at UEFA's next Executive Committee meeting on September 11 in Tirana.

Europe's governing body will sign off on a host of matters in the Albanian capital including where all three domestic European finals will be held in 2027 - with Atletico Madrid's Estadio Metropolitano among the candidates.

UEFA will analyse all factors involved in Barcelona's request with a decision set for the above date.

The report adds there is a genuine lack of unified support within UEFA to grant the idea and final ratification from FIFA in October would still be required.

If Barcelona are given the green light by UEFA, and latterly FIFA, December 20th vs. Villarreal could be a historical day in Miami.

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Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.