Barcelona vs Atletico de Liga could be played in Miami

Is LaLiga EA Sports football outside of Spain possible? Yes, what initially seemed like a utopian scenario is gradually taking shape. Recently, it has been rumored that the match between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, scheduled for matchday 18 of the local tournament, could take place on December 21 outside Spanish borders.

According to this premise, the grand showdown between the Catalan side and the 'Colchoneros' is expected to be held in Miami, specifically at the Hard Rock Café Stadium. However, despite the growing idea, there is still no official confirmation that this proposal has been approved and it could remain just an idea, as was the case with other attempts to bring LaLiga matches to the United States in the past, such as the Barcelona - Girona match on January 26, 2019, and the Villarreal CF - Atlético Madrid clash on December 8, 2019, which did not materialize.

The prospect of a Barça-Atlético clash in Miami is becoming more concrete

Currently, as reported by the website 'Relevo,' optimism surrounding the possibility of this official match taking place in the United States is becoming more solid. Why? Because apparently, several parties involved in organizing this event (LaLiga, the clubs, and Relevent Sports, the company that previously signed an agreement with FIFA to bring European league matches to the USA) unofficially admit that there have been recent developments that fuel hope for the successful realization of this initiative.

At this point, the fact that the venue and date of the match seem to have already been agreed upon is of particular significance. As mentioned earlier, the match is now scheduled for December 21, one day earlier than initially planned in the calendar. The reason being that the event will take place at the Hard Rock Stadium, a venue that was already reserved for an NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and the San Francisco 49ers on December 22.

Furthermore, the broadcasting operator has had to implement an operational plan prepared three months ago for an event of this magnitude. These two aspects suggest that key elements are gradually coming together for the successful execution of this match outside Spanish borders, although there are still other aspects to be finalized.

What aspects are left to finalize this initiative?

In that sense, as mentioned earlier, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) acknowledges that something has caused a stir, but at the same time, they point out that no organization has contacted them to request the necessary authorization to hold this match in the United States. It is important to note that this matter must be addressed by the Management Commission, currently the highest-ranking body in the Federation following the disqualification of Pedro Rocha. Once the RFEF receives the formal proposal, certain regulatory aspects will need to be adjusted, and due considerations will be made regarding a decision of such importance.

Now, apparently Miguel Ángel Galán, director of CENAFE (National Center for Football Coaches Training of Spain) and president of the Association for Democracy and Transparency in Sport, has expressed that if this decision is approved, he would immediately challenge it, even going as far as to request the suspension of the competition through precautionary measures in the National Court:

"With the precedent of moving the Spanish Super Cup to Arabia, with Rubiales and Piqué's company being under investigation for corruption in business, there is no legal basis to attempt to take a public competition abroad without the authorization of the Superior Council of Sports," warned Miguel Ángel Galán.

Considering this context, another issue that seems to be a hindrance to this happening is the institutional relationships that LaLiga has with the different actors involved in approving this event. In this regard, the link between the league and the CSD (Superior Council of Sports) has not been the best. Also, there have been recent tensions with FIFA and, to a lesser extent, with UEFA, regarding the calendar and the operation of certain competitions.

In addition to this, several actors involved in this initiative agree that everything ultimately depends on a political issue. If these two bodies end up granting their authorization, as well as other sectors such as the American Confederation, the American Soccer Federation, and the Major League Soccer must do, there would still be one entity to convince: the Spanish Government. If it opposes LaLiga's aspirations to take this match outside Spanish borders, it could significantly complicate the situation.

Also, the role of the Spanish Footballers' Association (AEF) cannot be overlooked

Similarly, in this equation, it is also crucial to consider the opinion of the Spanish Footballers' Association, which states that it has not received any communication or information about this initiative. This association is also a key part of this operation, as in the initial attempts to carry out this initiative, they managed to oppose it, even going as far as threatening a strike because their opinion was not sought, being one of the main actors in this matter.

This aspect must be approached carefully to avoid inconveniences. Therefore, it would be necessary to sit down and negotiate a beneficial agreement for both parties, with the aim of appeasing various sectors and ultimately concretizing an initiative in which the clubs seem to be fully in agreement, as both teams, in addition to seeing the economic benefits of realizing this match, both entities seem to maintain good relations with LaLiga.