Spanish federation asks UEFA, FIFA to approve La Liga match in U.S.

MADRID (AP) — The Spanish league is closer to playing a regular-season game in the United States.

The Spanish soccer federation on Monday approved a request for the match between Villarreal and Barcelona to be played in Miami on Dec. 20.

The federation will now seek approval from soccer governing bodies UEFA and FIFA.

The 17th-round match in La Liga would be played at the Hard Rock Stadium.

The league first tried to stage a match in the U.S. in 2018, but the idea was dismissed after criticism from some players, fans and clubs. Its subsequent attempts to play there also failed.

Staging a match abroad has been part of the league's goal of promoting soccer and its brand in other countries. The league is in a long-term partnership with sports and entertainment group Relevent Sports, which is part of Stephen Ross' portfolio of companies including Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Dolphins, the Formula One's Miami Grand Prix and the Miami Open tennis tournament.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer