Plans to host the Villarreal vs Barcelona La Liga fixture in Miami this December have officially been cancelled, according to a statement from La Liga. The highly anticipated match was scheduled for December 20 at the Hard Rock Stadium, marking what would have been the first top-flight Spanish league game played outside Spain.

In August, the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) approved the proposal to move Villarreal’s home fixture against Barcelona to the United States. However, the decision sparked widespread criticism among players, clubs, and fans across Spain. Over the weekend, players in La Liga staged a symbolic protest, standing still for the first 15 seconds of matches to express their disapproval.

The match promoters, Relevent Sports, cited “insufficient time” to organise the event as the primary reason for the cancellation. La Liga also attributed the decision to the “uncertainty in Spain,” which complicated planning and logistics.

As a result, the match will now take place at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, its original venue. The cancellation was announced during Villarreal’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Manchester City.

Reacting to the news, officials from Villarreal described the move as “disrespectful” to the club, its board, players, and fans. The club added that an official communication would soon follow.

La Liga expressed “deep regret” over the decision, calling it a setback to its efforts to grow the league’s international profile. Officials noted that staging the Villarreal vs Barcelona clash in the United States would have been a major milestone in La Liga’s global expansion.

“It would have been a decisive step toward new international revenue and exposure,” the league said, adding that missing such opportunities hinders progress.

The proposed fixture in Miami would have marked the first-ever European top-flight league game hosted in the United States. Although the Spanish Super Cup has been played in Saudi Arabia in four of the past five seasons, this would have represented a new chapter in La Liga’s global outreach.

Villarreal, in a statement, also expressed disappointment that fans in the United States have been “denied the opportunity” to witness an official league game live in their country.

Barcelona coach Hansi Flick had earlier revealed that his players were unhappy about the arrangement. “The players are not happy, and I’m not happy either, but La Liga decided we will play this game,” Flick said prior to the announcement.