The Villarreal CF president has announced two major compensation measures for season ticket holders, should the request to play the match against FC Barcelona be approved
Villarreal CF president Fernando Roig confirmed, during the pre-season press conference ahead of the official start of the campaign, the club’s intention to play the match against FC Barcelona, corresponding to Matchday 17 of LaLiga EA Sports 2025/26, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 20th December 2025.
The Yellow Submarine’s top figure explained that the Spanish Football Federation has approved the processing of the request made by Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona, and has referred it to UEFA to begin the procedures and obtain the subsequent authorisation from FIFA for the match to be played in the United States. “It’s now in UEFA’s hands. But everything suggests we are going to play there,” he stated.
Fernando Roig described the opportunity to play in Miami as a “historic opportunity” for Villarreal CF and for Spanish football: “We would be the first European team to play a league match outside our borders. It would help us greatly to expand the brand in a key market like the United States.”
The Villarreal CF president also announced two major compensation measures for the club’s 2025/26 season-ticket holders:
- All Villarreal CF season-ticket holders this season will be able to fly to Miami and watch the match against FC Barcelona free of charge.
- Season-ticket holders who cannot or do not wish to attend will receive a 20% refund of the amount they paid for their season ticket this season.
Roig also stressed the need to expand the brand and look to the future: “Reaching the United States is an opportunity we must seize. We have to expand the brand of our football and of Villarreal CF. It’s also a boost for our sponsors and for the ceramics sector. Many clubs agree on the need to internationalise and to look for ways to generate more revenue so we can get closer to other leagues, such as the Premier League.”
Finally, the Villarreal CF president recalled that the possibility of playing an official LALIGA fixture abroad dates back to 2019, when the Yellow Submarine were set to face Atlético de Madrid in Miami an idea that did not come to fruition due to opposition from the RFEF.
