In just a few days, a daring plan to bring Spanish football to American soil will be a critical test. On Wednesday, September 11, the UEFA Executive Committee will meet in Tirana, Albania, to decide whether the long -awaited Villarreal vs. Barcelona on Friday December 20 can be played in Spain – especially at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
This proposal, jointly supported by Laliga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), marks an important push to globalize Spanish football. But UEFA, the administrative body of European football, is carefully entering. If the steward of the sport on the continent, UEFA is concerned that exporting league matches can undermine the integrity of domestic competitions.
Fan -Beroslag and internal opposition
UEFA's caution is not only bureaucratic – it is rooted in fan sentiment. After a meeting with football supporters Europe, a coalition that represents fans on the continent, UEFA received a clear message: European supporters are overwhelming against competitions that are played outside of Europe.
And it's not just fans. Some clubs push back within Spain. Real Madrid in particular issued a formal explanation with the Miami match, which directly refers to the role of UEFA in the decision. That internal abnormal opinion adds another layer of complexity to the debate.
A story about two proposals
Interestingly, UEFA also evaluates a separate proposal from the Serie A of Italy to organize a Milan versus Como competition in Perth, Australia, in February. In contrast to the Spanish business, the Italian plan enjoys unanimous support from Series A clubs. Moreover, the iconic San Siro Stadium is not available that weekend due to the role in the Winter Olympics, making the overseas option more practical.
A precedent setting moment
The legal team of UEFA racet against the clock to make a framework for what could become a historical precedent. This is not only a yes-or-not voice-it is about defining the rules for when, how and where the domestic league matches can be played abroad. Questions about distance, frequency, competition -impact and access to fan are all on the table.
As soon as UEFA is called on 11 September, the decision will be passed on to FIFA, which keeps the last word. For the time being, the fate of the Miami competition – and possibly the future of globalized league match – is in the hands of UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.