Two of Spanish soccer’s strongest sides will play a historic aggressive match in Miami, with Barcelona and Villarreal set to play an official La Liga recreation at Laborious Rock Stadium on Dec. 20.
Whereas European soccer groups have staged dozens of summer season friendlies and exhibitions everywhere in the world, this match could be the primary occasion of any of Europe’s largest leagues holding an official league match overseas.
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“It is a landmark second for La Liga and for world soccer,” La Liga president Javier Tebas mentioned in a information launch. “By bringing an official match to america, we aren’t solely connecting with hundreds of thousands of followers throughout North America, but in addition reinforcing Spain’s management as a worldwide soccer powerhouse. With the assist of all related establishments, this initiative is daring, historic, and designed to encourage each our followers overseas and people at house in Spain.”
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 24, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates his purpose towards New York Metropolis FC at Citi Subject. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 24, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates his purpose towards New York Metropolis FC at Citi Subject. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-0 win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 5, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates together with his Inter Miami teammate after scoring a purpose towards CF Montreal throughout the first half at Saputo Stadium. Messi had two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
June 29, 2025: Lionel Messi is consoled by Paris Saint-Germain’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia throughout Inter Miami’s 4-0 loss to PSG within the Spherical of 16 of the FIFA Membership World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Could 31, 2025: Lionel Messi scores a purpose towards the Columbus Crew at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 5-1 win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Could 3, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates with Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez (9) after scoring a purpose towards the New York Pink Bulls at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami received the sport, 4-1.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 9, 2025: Lionel Messi scores towards Los Angeles FC throughout the first half at Chase Stadium. Messi scored twice within the recreation as Inter Miami went on to defeat LAFC, 3-2 on combination, of their Concacaf Champions Cup quarterfinal matchup.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
March 16, 2025: Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a purpose towards Atlanta United throughout Inter Miami’s 2-1 win at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Feb. 22, 2025: Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball throughout the MLS season-opening weekend match towards New York Metropolis FC at Chase Stadium. Inter Miami tied NYCFC, 2-2, within the recreation.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 9, 2024: Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after Inter Miami’s first-round playoff loss to Atlanta United at Chase Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Oct. 2, 2024: Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a purpose towards the Columbus Crew throughout the first half at Decrease.com Subject. Messi scored twice in Inter Miami’s 3-2 win, which clinched the MLS Supporters’ Protect.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 14, 2024: Lionel Messi celebrates a purpose scored towards the Philadelphia Union at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets within the 3-1 Inter Miami win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 27, 2024: Lionel Messi makes an attempt a nook kick towards the New England Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 4-1 win. A crowd of 65,612 confirmed up at Gillette Stadium, setting a New England Revolution house attendance file (earlier excessive: 61,316 for 2002 MLS Cup).
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 20, 2024: Lionel Messi shakes fingers with the officers after the sport towards Nashville SC at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets in Inter Miami’s 3-1 win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
April 6, 2024: Lionel Messi and the Colorado Rapids’ Kimani Stewart-Baynes (27) battle for the ball throughout the second half at Chase Stadium. Messi scored a purpose for Inter Miami in a 2-2 draw.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
March 13, 2024: Lionel Messi celebrates with Luis Suarez after scoring a purpose towards Nashville SC throughout the second leg of a Concacaf Champions Cup Spherical of 16 match. Inter Miami received the sport, 3-1, and superior on combination 5-3, to the quarterfinals.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
March 2, 2024: Lionel Messi talks to the media after Inter Miami’s 5-0 win towards Orlando Metropolis at Chase Stadium. Messi scored two targets within the win.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Feb. 25, 2024: Lionel Messi scores an equalizing purpose previous Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper John McCarthy throughout the second half at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park. Messi’s purpose salvaged a 1-1 draw for Inter Miami on the highway in Carson, California.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Feb. 21, 2024: Lionel Messi reacts after a 2-0 season-opening win over Actual Salt Lake at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Nov. 10, 2023: Lionel Messi poses with the Ballon d’Or trophy earlier than Inter Miami’s pleasant towards New York Metropolis at DRV PNK Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 20, 2023: Lionel Messi locations the captains armband on defender DeAndre Yedlin after being subbed off throughout the first half of Inter Miami’s 4-0 win over Toronto FC at DRV PNK Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Sept. 3, 2023: Lionel Messi and Los Angeles FC’s Mateusz Bogusz (19) battle for the ball throughout the second half of Inter Miami’s 3-1 win at BMO Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 30, 2023: Inter Miami’s DeAndre Yedlin (2) and Lionel Messi hoist the Leagues Cup trophy earlier than the sport towards Nashville SC at DRV PNK Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 26, 2023: Lionel Messi (10) celebrates after scoring a purpose towards the New York Pink Bulls with teammate Benjamin Cremaschi (30) throughout the second half at Pink Bull Enviornment. Inter Miami received, 2-0, in what was Messi’s first MLS regular-season recreation.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 23, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates with Facundo Farias (11) after defeating FC Cincinnati in penalty kicks within the U.S. Open Cup semifinals at TQL Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 19, 2023: Messi throughout the trophy ceremony for the Leagues Cup Championship match.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 19, 2023: Messi waves after successful the Leagues Cup ultimate towards Nashville.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 15, 2023: Messi reacts after scoring towards the Philadelphia Union. Inter Miami received the Leagues Cup semifinal, 4-1.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 11, 2023: Messi celebrates after scoring towards Charlotte FC within the Leagues Cup quarterfinals.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 6, 2023: Lionel Messi scores in penalty kicks towards FC Dallas in a Leagues Cup Spherical of 16 knockout recreation.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 6, 2023: Messi celebrates a purpose towards FC Dallas with teammate Jordi Alba.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
Aug. 2, 2023: Lionel Messi scores a purpose previous Orlando Metropolis SC goalkeeper Pedro Gallese throughout the Leagues Cup.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 25, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates a purpose towards Atlanta United throughout the Leagues Cup.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 21, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates scoring a game-winning purpose towards Cruz Azul throughout the Leagues Cup opener.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 21, 2023: Lionel Messi celebrates a purpose towards Cruz Azul within the Leagues Cup opener.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 16, 2023: Lionel Messi was launched as a Miami participant at an occasion at DRV PNK Stadium.
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Lionel Messi in MLS: Pictures from soccer star’s tenure with Inter Miami
July 16, 2023: Lionel Messi was launched as a Miami participant at an occasion at DRV PNK Stadium.
The match will pair two of Spain’s finest groups, with each golf equipment collaborating on this season’s version of the UEFA Champions League. Barcelona, with teen phenom Lamine Yamal main certainly one of soccer’s most star-studded rosters, is broadly considered one of many sport’s most well-known golf equipment. Whereas Villarreal quite infamously hail from one of many smallest Spanish cities to host a top-flight membership, the staff has managed 11 top-five La Liga finishes over the past quarter-century.
A pre-sale occasion for tickets will open on Tuesday, Oct. 21, whereas gross sales to most people will start at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Soccer:
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Barcelona vs. Villarreal in Miami: Can La Liga play matches outdoors of Spain?
Relating to nationwide groups or worldwide membership tournaments in soccer, it’s not solely unusual to see a match performed in a impartial location. Political instability, sanctions towards a membership or nation, or stadium issues have pressured aggressive video games to be staged in a nation neither participant hails from.
There are additionally examples of a membership from one nation taking part in in one other nation’s league. AS Monaco, who play within the French prime flight, is the best-known instance around the globe, whereas MLS has three Canadian groups. Related conditions exist for microstates like Liechtenstein and San Marino. All of these situations have required approval from FIFA.
Nevertheless, the concept of staging home league matches outdoors of the nation the 2 golf equipment are from has drawn important pushback through the years. Gamers have cited the elevated journey as compounding the problems offered by a relentless international soccer calendar, whereas dedicated native followers object to having house video games staged overseas.
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UEFA issued a Monday, with the European governing physique explaining that FIFA’s imprecise tips left little possibility however to “reluctantly” approve two such matches. Together with the Barcelona vs. Villarreal conflict in Miami, Italian golf equipment AC Milan and Como are set to face off in Perth, Australia in February 2026.
“League matches needs to be performed on house soil; the rest would disenfranchise loyal match-going followers and doubtlessly introduce distortive parts in competitions,” mentioned UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin. “Whereas it’s regrettable to need to let these two video games go forward, this choice is phenomenal and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.”
Nonetheless, the state of affairs could also be out of the fingers of soccer’s conventional energy brokers. In 2019 occasion promoter Relevent introduced an antitrust swimsuit towards U.S. Soccer and FIFA after makes an attempt to stage Spanish and Ecuadorian home league play in america have been rebuffed. Relevent’s plan was to advertise a recreation between Barcelona and Girona, once more in Miami.
That in April of this 12 months, successfully opening the door for leagues who’re prepared and capable of make the required preparations. La Liga has a long-term partnership with Relevent, which like host venue Laborious Rock Stadium is owned by actual property magnate Stephen M. Ross.