Real Madrid Oppose LaLiga’s Plan to Stage Barcelona vs Villarreal in the U.S.

Real Madrid have officially asked FIFA and UEFA to reject LaLiga’s proposal to hold the December 2025 fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in the United States.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has already given the green light for the match, which is part of LaLiga president Javier Tebas’ vision to take Spanish football to a global stage, boost international exposure, and attract more revenue.

However, Madrid have voiced strong opposition, arguing in a Tuesday statement that the move would disrupt “the competitive balance and grant an undue sporting advantage to the applicant clubs.” The club warned that “if this proposal is implemented, its consequences would be so serious that they would mark a turning point for the world of football.”

Opinion:
Football has long been a sport rooted in tradition, but in recent years, commercial ambitions have increasingly tested the boundaries of where and how matches are played. While LaLiga’s desire to grow its international fanbase is understandable — after all, global audiences are key to the sport’s future — moving an official league fixture across continents raises serious questions.

For one, fans who fill stadiums week after week are at risk of being sidelined for the sake of global spectacle. Home-ground advantage, a pillar of competitive fairness, would also be compromised. Madrid’s resistance, therefore, isn’t just about rivalry politics; it touches on a deeper debate about how far football should bend to commercial interests without losing its sporting integrity.

In the end, the heart of football lies not only in global reach, but in the roar of home fans, the familiarity of local grounds, and the traditions that give each match its soul. The challenge will be finding a way to expand the game’s horizons without eroding its roots.