Barcelona and Villarreal set for La Liga clash in the United States | OneFootball

The Barcelona officially announced on Wednesday that it will play a Spanish Championship match in Miami, at the Hard Rock Stadium, in the United States. Barça will face Villarreal on American soil on December 20, for the 17th round of La Liga.

Controversial Subject

A few weeks ago, when the rumor about the match began to circulate on social media, several personalities from Spanish football took a stand against the measure. Goalkeeper Unai Simón, from the Spanish national team and Athletic Bilbao, said that if the match were to take place in the USA, it would be a "disrespect" to the fans.

One of the most influential clubs in the world, Real Madrid even released an official note repudiating the idea of La Liga and the clubs, who see the international match favorably.

Hard Rock Stadium, in Miami – (Photo: KEVIN C. COX/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

“Key Market”

Barcelona and Villarreal see the game in Miami as a great opportunity. Joan Laporta, president of Barça, stated that as a "global club", the Catalans seek to reconnect with North American fans, positioned in a "key market".

“As a global club, with millions of fans around the world, this opportunity reinforces our commitment to international fans, especially in a key market like the USA. An official match in a city like Miami, with a large Barça community, will undoubtedly be a great spectacle with two teams competing at the highest level," said Laporta.

Historic Opportunity

For its part, Villarreal stated that it is a unique opportunity to further increase the club's international visibility. The team's president, Fernando Roig, also said that he will "compensate" the team's fans who will not be able to travel to the USA for the match.

“For Villarreal, this is a historic opportunity to continue growing and gaining visibility in a country as important as the United States. With this initiative, we will be able to reach fans from other parts of the world and continue expanding the club's and LALIGA's brands. We know that this match, played away from home, will impact our fans, and that is why we will take significant measures to compensate them. We are confident that it will be a great experience," said Roig.

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