LaLiga cancels Miami Barça-Villarreal match after promoter withdrawal

LaLiga said on Tuesday that plans to stage a regular-season match between Barcelona and Villarreal at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20 have been cancelled after the event's promoter withdrew, citing “the uncertainty that has arisen in Spain over the past few weeks.” The game would have been the first LaLiga fixture held outside Spain and was due to be promoted by Relevent Sports in partnership with local stakeholders.

LaLiga said it deeply regretted the decision, calling the project a “historic and unparalleled opportunity” for the international expansion of Spanish football. Relevent said it had informed the league that there was insufficient time to properly stage an event of that scale and that it would be irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed match. UEFA had given reluctant approval earlier in October, while the Spanish federation had also signed off. Wider acceptance by other governing bodies, including FIFA and regional authorities in the United States, had not been fully resolved.

The Miami proposal had provoked intense opposition within Spain in recent weeks. Players across LaLiga staged silent protests in recent rounds, standing motionless...