OFFICIAL — Real Madrid launches all-out opposition to La Liga’s plan to play Villarreal–Barcelona in the United States

Real Madrid have officially declared their strong opposition to La Liga’s controversial proposal to stage the upcoming Matchday 17 clash between Villarreal and Barcelona in the United States. The fixture, originally scheduled to be played on Spanish soil, has become the center of a growing battle over the globalization of Spanish football.

The club’s resistance is built on three major arguments. Firstly, territorial reciprocity — a principle that ensures each club gets equal opportunity to host fixtures on their home ground. In Real Madrid’s view, moving this particular match abroad would unfairly strip Villarreal of their home advantage, setting a dangerous precedent for future seasons.

Secondly, the competitive balance of the league is at stake. Taking a match thousands of miles away from its intended venue, and into a neutral environment, could alter the competitive dynamics. Real Madrid argue that even subtle changes in match conditions can have significant effects on league standings and overall fairness.

The third pillar of their stance is sporting integrity. Real Madrid insists that the essence of La Liga lies in maintaining the tradition of playing within Spain’s borders. Relocating matches abroad, they warn, risks diluting the identity and authenticity of the domestic competition.

Beyond their objections, the club has also outlined a procedural demand: no La Liga fixture should be moved overseas without the unanimous consent of all participating clubs. They stress that such a decision must also align with both Spanish sports legislation and international football regulations.

In pursuit of this position, Real Madrid have launched a multi-front campaign to block the proposed move. The first step involves a direct appeal to FIFA, asking the global governing body to deny authorization for the game unless there is unanimous agreement across La Liga. FIFA’s jurisdiction over cross-border club matches makes them a critical player in this dispute.

The second avenue is pressure on UEFA. Real Madrid have reached out to European football’s governing body, urging them to influence the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to reject the relocation request. The club cites UEFA’s own 2018 statement, which opposed moving domestic matches abroad except in extraordinary circumstances.

The third strategy targets the Higher Sports Council (CSD), Spain’s top governmental sports authority. Real Madrid have petitioned the council to withhold administrative approval for the match if full club consensus is not achieved. Given the CSD’s ultimate authority in such matters, their stance could be decisive.

For Real Madrid, this battle is about far more than one fixture. It represents a defining moment in the wider debate over La Liga’s push to expand its global footprint. League president Javier Tebas has long advocated taking competitive matches overseas, especially to North America, to grow international audiences and revenue streams.

However, traditionalists, with Real Madrid at the forefront, see this as a direct threat to the league’s competitive traditions and fairness. They fear that agreeing to this proposal could open the door to more fixtures being relocated abroad, fundamentally altering the Spanish football calendar.

The outcome of this dispute could set a major precedent. If Real Madrid succeed, La Liga’s ambitions to export its games might be halted for the foreseeable future. If they fail, fans could soon see more regular-season matches staged far from Spain, marking a new era — one that many believe could forever change the soul of the competi