La Liga is reportedly making significant strides toward staging a Barcelona match in the United States, with young star Lamine Yamal potentially headlining the event in Miami. Advanced negotiations are underway for Barcelona to play their Week 17 La Liga match against Villarreal in Miami during the 2025-26 season. The match is currently scheduled for December 20, 2025, at Estadio de la Ceramica, but could be moved to Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) is set to discuss the proposal, and if approved, will seek authorization from UEFA and FIFA. This move aligns with La Liga's objective to broaden its reach into the growing U.S. market, where interest in soccer has surged. The rise of Major League Soccer, fueled by the arrival of superstars like Lionel Messi, has further amplified this interest. The U.S. is also set to host major tournaments like the 2024 Copa America, 2025 Gold Cup, 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For La Liga, staging a match in Miami would be a strategic move to strengthen its presence in the U.S. market, where FC Barcelona has a massive fan base. It would also offer American fans a unique opportunity to watch stars like Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Ronald Araújo in an official match without traveling to Spain.

Lamine Yamal's potential appearance in Miami would be a major event for fans in the United States, especially if he arrives as a reigning Ballon d'Or winner. He has played in the U.S. before, during Barcelona’s 2023 summer tour, where he participated in three friendlies and scored one goal. He missed opportunities to return in the summer of 2024 and the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

If the Barcelona vs. Villarreal match is confirmed for Miami, it would mark the first time a La Liga match is played outside of Spain. The Spanish Super Cup has been held outside of Spain since 2018, first in Tangier, Morocco, and since 2020 in Saudi Arabia.

La Liga president Javier Tebas has long aimed to bring Spanish football to an international audience. FIFA has reportedly accepted that leagues may play one official match per season overseas, further supporting these endeavors.

The process requires agreement from both clubs, notification to UEFA by RFEF, and UEFA's approval by November 30, 2025, followed by clearance from CONCACAF and the United States Soccer Federation. For Barcelona, this is a strategic move to solidify their position in the U.S. market. Frequent pre-season tours have already built a loyal fan base, and a La Liga match in Miami could boost commercial prospects, from merchandise sales to sponsorships.