LaLiga on American soil? The match between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid could be a historic event that will take place outside of Spain. Will the Spanish football league play at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 22?

LaLiga outside the continent like the NFL

LaLiga has been trying to expand its presence outside Spain for years. The match between FC Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid, scheduled for December 22, 2024, could take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. If this plan goes ahead, it would be the first LaLiga match played outside Europe.

Such a move is part of LaLiga's strategy to increase interest in Spanish football across the ocean, but also to strengthen the league economically by attracting new sponsors and investors. The move can also be supported by high fan attendance at pre-season matches in 2024 for the friendly El Clasico at MetLife Stadium. The move is also backed by global competition with leagues such as the Premier League also planning to play matches in the United States.

LaLiga, in pursuit of its plan, is also providing financial benefits for the clubs involved. According to reports, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid are set to receive around €3.5 million for playing this match in Miami. This amount is extremely attractive for a single meeting.

© Grzegorz Kaliciak

Why Miami?

Miami, it seems, is the ideal place to play this prestigious meeting. Hard Rock Stadium, has previously hosted international sporting events, including NFL and NBA matches, as well as pre-season friendly tournaments, such as the International Champions Cup, which regularly featured top European clubs.

What's more, Miami, with its large Hispanic population and strong ties to Spanish culture, is a natural choice to host a Spanish football league. The city in Florida is also more often chosen as a venue for football events since Leo Messi plays for Inter Miami.

© Miami Dolphins

Tebas has tried once before…

However, the idea of moving the match to the United States faces a number of challenges. Although LaLiga president Javier Tebas is a big supporter of the idea, the decision to play the match abroad is not solely up to him. International football bodies such as FIFA and UEFA, as well as the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), which have to give their approval for it to go ahead, play a key role.

The RFEF has blocked similar attempts in the past, such as the plan to play FC Barcelona's match against Girona in the United States in 2018 proposed by the departing Tebas.

The final decision to play the match in Miami rests with FIFA and Gianni Infantino. In recent months, FIFA has shown a greater openness to initiatives for international league matches. It has even set up a special working group to study the impact of such events on football. We will know the outcome of these discussions in the coming weeks, and FIFA's decision will determine whether the LaLiga plan goes ahead.