The Miami Experiment Falls Flat: Spain’s Players Take a Stand

In my pre-season long read on the 2025–26 football storylines, I mentioned the controversy around Villarreal’s plan to play their home match against Barcelona in Miami. At the time, it seemed like yet another example of football chasing global markets at the expense of the local communities that give it meaning.

A few weeks later, that story has taken a turn. The match will still be played, but not in Miami. The much-discussed plan to stage it in the United States has been cancelled following a wave of public criticism and coordinated player protests. The league’s official statement spoke of “uncertainty generated in Spain” and “coordination issues”, but the real reason is clear: the opposition became too strong to ignore.

At the start of every La Liga fixture this weekend (game week 9), players from all 20 clubs stood still after kick-off for around 15 seconds in silent protest. The action was coordinated by the players’ union, the AFE, and supported by every club captain, including those from Barcelona and Villarreal. The message was simple: decisions that affect the league’s integrity should never be made without involving the players and the fans.

Television coverage of the protest was telling. Instead of showing the players standing silently in the centre circle, many broadcasters cut away to crowd shots or wide aerial views. The decision drew heavy criticism, and in the end, it had the opposite effect. The silence became louder. By trying to hide the protest, the league only made it more powerful.

For Villarreal, the Miami plan had been sold as a chance to gain exposure and revenue. For supporters, it felt like a loss of identity. A home game thousands of miles away, branded as a global opportunity, did not feel like an honour but a betrayal. The club’s promise of “free” flights to Miami was little consolation. Most fans could not simply take time off work, organise visas or budget for hotel costs in Florida. However, their frustration was not about logistics, but about principle. A home game belongs to the local supporters who fill the stands week after week, not to a commercial project abroad.

The match will now go ahead in Spain, where it should always have been. Yet it is unlikely that the league will drop the idea entirely. La Liga’s leadership remains intent on expanding the brand internationally and will probably revisit similar proposals in the future. This is why the protest matters. When players, captains and supporters stand together, their collective influence can protect the integrity of the competition.

The cancellation of the Miami match is a small victory, but it shouldn’t be the end of the conversation. The unity shown by the players needs to carry on. Together with their clubs, they should push for clear rules that stop league fixtures being moved abroad in the future. Football’s worth comes from its bond with the people who live it every week. Of course it needs money to grow and survive, but it doesn't need money that damages its essence. There are other ways to sustain the game without selling off what makes it special.