UEFA 'reluctantly' approves LaLiga, Serie A matches in US, Australia

A LaLiga match between Barcelona and Villarreal can be played in Miami this December after UEFA "reluctantly" approved the move.

UEFA ruled similarly in a case involving an Italian match between AC Milan and Como, which Serie A had proposed to move to Perth, Australia, in February.

The governing body for European soccer initially pushed back on the efforts, as fans in both countries protested the matches being moved. UEFA's stance has been that league matches must be played in their respective league's home country.

However, in a statement Monday, UEFA said that it had found no framework within FIFA statutes to oppose the moves. The final approval rests with FIFA.

"The UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it," European football's governing body said in its statement. 

"While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent," UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said in a statement. "Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment."

Provided it receives final approval, the Barcelona-Villarreal match would take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, home of the NFL's Dolphins. It's expected to be moved to December 20 to avoid conflicting with the Dolphins' December 21 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The AC Milan-Como match needed a new home in part because Milan will be the primary host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics in February.