UEFA set fresh deadline on Barcelona v Villarreal in Miami decision

Barcelona will receive an update from UEFA over their controversial plan to play a La Liga game in the USA by September 11.

Hansi Flick’s side did not participate in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the US with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid flying the La Liga flag.

However, the club have proposed an ambitious plan to head across the Atlantic in December to play a league game against Villareal at Inter Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium.

That would be a historical first for the club and La Liga, with criticism landing from all sides, and there are several hurdles still to pass.

At the start of August, the Spanish FA [RFEF] and La Liga informed UEFA of their approval to the idea and request the start of the process to allow 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 comes as Barcelona’s third try to do this, but they will need UEFA’s green light, with the final tick already being granted from FIFA.

As per the latest update from Marca, the situation will be resolved at UEFA’s next Executive Committee meeting on September 11 in Tirana.

There will also be a call made on the location for the 2027 Champions League final with Atletico Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano up against the Olympic Stadium in Baku.

Los Rojblancos hosted the 2019 final as Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 in the Spanish capital.

The 2025/26 final has already been confirmed for the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary.