LaLiga Plans Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid Showdown in Miami Before Christmas, Defying Fifa’s Stance
LaLiga is actively working towards staging a high-profile match between FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Miami, just before the Christmas holidays. Reports from sources within the Spanish top-flight league first hinted at the possibility of moving the game to the United States back in August. Despite potential roadblocks, including needing Fifa’s approval, LaLiga is eager to forge ahead with their plans.
The fixture in question is slated for matchday 18, with all matches currently scheduled for December 22, pending television selections. However, moving a domestic league match overseas requires the green light from Fifa, which had announced in May its intention to establish a working group to evaluate the feasibility of such ventures. Nevertheless, there have been no recent public updates from Fifa regarding this matter.
The discussion around potentially shifting league games internationally gained traction following a legal settlement between Fifa and Relevent Sports in a US court in April. Relevent Sports has been actively pursuing the hosting of competitive league matches in the US, including LaLiga fixtures. Building on this legal resolution, LaLiga’s president, Javier Tebas, expressed his optimism about bringing matches to the US starting from the 2025-26 season. However, LaLiga is currently focused on making the Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid match a reality for this season.
In contrast, the Premier League’s Chief Executive, Richard Masters, has made it clear that there are no intentions to move English top-flight matches overseas. LaLiga’s persistence in exploring international opportunities not only underlines their commitment to expanding their brand globally but also hints at the evolving landscape of modern football.
While some may view this as a bold step towards reshaping the traditional boundaries of football, there are sure to be various stakeholders closely monitoring the developments. The potential showdown between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid on foreign soil could mark a significant milestone in the sport’s history, opening the door to new possibilities and challenges in the footballing world.