Villarreal and Atletico Madrid agree to play in Miami on December 8 as La Liga push to take Spanish football to US
LA LIGA could be heading to the States as the top-tier of Spanish football makes a fresh effort to play a competitive game across the Atlantic.
Villarreal and Atletico Madrid have signed up to a potential venue change that will see their meeting play out in Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.
On Thursday, it was confirmed that La Liga authorities, along with the two clubs, have officially proposed the December 6 fixture swap to the Spanish FA (RFEF).
League president Javier Tebas likened the move to NFL and NBA games played outside of their home countries, American football currently in the middle of its London Series.
But this is not the first effort to bring Spanish football to a new audience.
Last season's game between Barcelona and Girona was earmarked for Miami and met with a hostile reception from fans and the players' union (AFE).
Amid concerns over rest, kick-off times and contractual obligations, the AFE threatened strike action and were eventually able to call off the switch.
They admitted a future Stateside game was "possible" at the time with today's announcement indicating the AFE have only been "informed of the request".
RED TAPE
Then there is the necessary approval from FIFA, UEFA, CONCACAF and the US Soccer federation - let alone the RFEF.
Tensions between the country's FA and La Liga have boiled over on a number of occasions lately with RFEF chief Luis Rubiales strongly against last season's proposed Miami trip.
Most recently, the organisations have clashed over the controversial scheduling of games on Fridays and Mondays as well as the concerns over October's Clasico.
English football fans may well feel a sense of deja vu too, with the doomed Game 39 idea floated over ten years ago eventually crumbling to dust - for now.
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Of course, pre-season excursions to America are nothing new and La Liga clubs have been very keen on breaking into this market, most notably holding a summer Clasico in Miami in 2017.
Villarreal have already pledged their way of enticing supporters to back the Miami match, which would occur as a "home" fixture.
Discounted season tickets, 3,000 free seats for fans heading to Atletico for the reverse fixture, and 600 free tickets for the game in Florida have all been committed to if the plan goes ahead.