Barca faces a new blow following an official announcement from La Liga

23/10/2025 11:09:00 GoalGuru

The plan to relocate the Villarreal - Barcelona game to Miami fell through, causing a significant financial setback for the Catalan team during a persistent money crisis.

On Tuesday, La Liga officially confirmed the Villarreal versus Barcelona match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami — which was expected to be La Liga's first game held outside Spain — has been canceled.

The event organizer, Relevent Sports, announced: “Due to the current instability in Spain, there is insufficient time to properly execute an event of this scale. Starting ticket sales without a confirmed match is also irresponsible.” Although initially described as “postponed,” La Liga later issued a statement confirming the match is permanently canceled.

According to Diario AS, Barcelona estimated this match could generate about 5-6 million Euros, enough to offset losses from playing two home games at Estadi Johan Cruyff — a stadium with only 6,000 seats, usually used for Barca Athletic and the women's team. Not being able to use Spotify Camp Nou or Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys has sharply reduced the club’s matchday revenue.

Barcelona expected to earn 5-6 million Euros from the Miami match, but the plan was canceled

The club stated they “deeply regret this decision”, yet could not hide their disappointment. With finances still tight, every source of income is crucial. Barcelona recently signed a sponsorship deal with Uber to improve their situation, but losing revenue from the US match adds more financial pressure.

The plan to take La Liga global sparked strong controversy domestically. Last weekend, clubs collectively protested by standing still for the first 15 seconds of their matches as a message against playing outside the territory. Some players felt this was “disrespectful to the local fans,” while many supporters viewed the cancellation as “a victory for common sense.”

The club must play at the 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff, drastically reducing revenue

For Barcelona, this decision means not just losing an international friendly but missing a golden chance to improve cash flow. Meanwhile, Italy’s Serie A is considering holding the AC Milan vs. Como match in Australia in February 2026, with observers watching closely to see if they repeat La Liga’s mistake.

With an already tight budget, Barcelona now must seek alternative ways to compensate for the lost income — a bitter reminder that the financial crisis at Camp Nou is far from over.

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