US company Relevent, contracted as the promoter and organizer of the famed Miami game between Villarreal and Barcelona this December, have explained their decision to cancel the event. La Liga have expressed their disapointment at the decision.
The game was scheduled to be hosted on the 21st of December at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, home of NFL side the Miami Dolphins. It was set to be the first La Liga game hosted in another country, with the Yellow Submarine agreeing to give up a home game for the opportunity, and offering to fly season-ticket holders out to the USA, or give them a discount on their season tickets.
Relevent release statement on Miami game
The company working out the logistics of the game, and indeed the finances, have decided to pull the plug on the event though. Relevent explained that the ‘uncertainty in Spain’ was behind their thinking, citing that they needed more time to pull off the event, with just two months to go.
“We have informed LaLiga of the need to postpone the planned match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami on Dec. 20,” read a statement carried by ESPN.
“Given the current uncertainty in Spain, there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale. It would also be irresponsible to begin selling tickets without a confirmed match in place.”
La Liga statement focuses on legal backing and regret
La Liga have also emitted a statement on the decision, explaining that they ‘deeply regretted’ the decision, seeing it as a missed opportunity to continue the growth of the league around the globe. They also emphasized that the decision was not based on any potential ‘corruption of the competition’, as Real Madrid had manifested in their complaint about the game.
Flick: “Lamine Yamal has no discomfort. For him, and for everyone, the victory and scoring goals are important. On Sunday we will see another Lamine. In big matches, he always shows up.”
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) October 21, 2025
Los Blancos have submitted two formal complaints to the Spanish Ministry for Sport in an attempt to get the game cancelled. That, combined with player protests over the lack of transparency in the organisation of the event from La Liga, were the bulk of the backlash from Spain’s institutions.
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