LaLiga Might Finally Get Its U.S. Regular-Season Game

Spain’s top soccer league has been trying and failing to play a regular-season match in the U.S. for years. It could finally happen in December.

A Dec. 22 match between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid might be moved to Miami, according to multiple reports. 

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross heads the promoter Relevent Sports, which has been working with LaLiga to bring a game to The 305 since at least 2018.

There have been plenty of roadblocks along the way, including cancellations of games scheduled for 2018 and 2019; Relevent eventually filed a lawsuit against FIFA and U.S. Soccer. Earlier this year, LaLiga and Relevent settled with FIFA, with the global body agreeing to review its rules around playing games abroad. Spain’s national federation, RFEF, has also opposed U.S. games in the past, but that was when it was led by former president Luis Rubiales, who has been connected to a number of scandals including a nonconsensual kiss on the Women’s World Cup stage and a potential corruption and money laundering scheme tied to Saudi Arabia.

If the match is going to Miami, some creativity will be required. The Dolphins are scheduled to host the 49ers on Dec. 22 with a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. (Both Barca and Atlético have about two weeks off after the Dec. 22 fixture, so it’s possible the game could simply be moved to another date. The Niners matchup is the Dolphins’ only home game scheduled after Dec. 8.)

Barcelona and Atlético were each tied to one of those games in 2018 and 2019. Once the clubs sign on, the move also needs approval from the Spanish federation, U.S. Soccer, Concacaf, and UEFA.

It’s not quite as simple as the NFL’s ever-expanding world tour. The Jacksonville Jaguars have taken the lead by playing in London every year and are looking to extend that deal. Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to increase the number of international games from five to 16 per year, and the league is interested in a potential international-media-rights package worth more than $1 billion. The NBA has also played a large number of regular-season games abroad, most recently with an annual game in Paris. In November, the Miami Heat and Washington Wizards will play in Mexico City, another favorite of the league.