La Liga, Spain’s premier soccer league, is preparing to break new ground by hosting its first-ever domestic match outside of Spain. According to a report by El País, the league is looking to move the high-profile fixture between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, scheduled for late December 2024, to Miami. This would mark a monumental step for European soccer, with no top-five league having ever held a regular season match abroad.
The match, originally set to be played in Barcelona at the iconic Spotify Camp Nou, is now being considered for Miami due to delays in the stadium’s renovation. If the Miami proposal moves forward, La Liga would follow the lead of sports leagues like the NBA and NFL, which have successfully hosted regular season games internationally. However, this move hinges on approval from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), UEFA, and FIFA, with the latter two showing openness to the idea after recent regulatory changes.
Regulatory Challenges and International Appeal
The decision to take this La Liga match to Miami is not without its challenges. While both UEFA and FIFA have signaled a willingness to approve such moves under new guidelines, the final green light must come from the RFEF. Currently led by Pedro Rocha, the Spanish federation has yet to confirm its position on the matter. La Liga officials are said to be in direct talks with FIFA, which has expressed interest in expanding European soccer’s reach to new markets, particularly in the U.S.
FIFA’s recent regulatory shift could play a pivotal role in the outcome. The international governing body has modified its stance to allow domestic league matches to be played abroad under certain conditions, including advance notice for fans to arrange travel. This change aligns with the growing interest in European football in the U.S., where sports like basketball and American football have already capitalized on global markets. Should the game take place in Miami, it would also follow the trend set by the Spanish Super Cup, which has been hosted in Saudi Arabia in recent years.
Lessons From a Failed 2018 Attempt by Laliga and Market Potential
La Liga’s ambition to host a match in Miami is not without precedent. In 2018, the league attempted to take a game between FC Barcelona and Girona to the U.S., but the move was blocked by the RFEF, UEFA, and FIFA. However, times have changed, and both UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin and FIFA have shown increased interest in expanding the global appeal of European soccer, particularly in the lucrative U.S. market. Ceferin has commented on the immense popularity of European football in the U.S., comparing its potential growth to that of the NBA’s international success.
In May 2024, FIFA dropped a legal case against Relevent, a U.S. company advocating for European soccer games abroad, signaling the governing body’s readiness to allow such fixtures. While initial plans pointed to a 2025 launch for overseas La Liga games, the potential December 2024 match in Miami would be a significant acceleration of this timeline. As La Liga seeks to tap into the growing American soccer fanbase, the success of this game could set a precedent for future international matches, further boosting the league’s global profile.
La Liga: The Role of U.S. Sports Company Relevent
In an effort to facilitate the move to Miami, LaLiga has partnered with Relevent, a U.S.-based sports events company. Relevent has experience in bringing international sporting events to North America and is handling negotiations to ensure all logistical aspects of hosting the Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid match in Miami are ironed out. The company is working on everything from stadium arrangements to broadcast rights and ticket sales.
However, the plan is still far from final, with many details yet to be confirmed. While fans in the U.S. may be eager to witness LaLiga stars like Robert Lewandowski and Antoine Griezmann in person, it remains uncertain whether the match will indeed be played in Miami. For now, LaLiga is pushing forward with its global ambitions, but it will need to navigate a complex web of approvals before this dream can become a reality.
