Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong slams La Liga's Miami plan as 'unfair and selfish'

La Liga confirmed the match would be played at Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December 2025, the first official La Liga game to be held outside Spain. UEFA had given reluctant approval earlier, and La Liga said it did not expect opposition from FIFA as the final step in the authorisation process.

De Jong made his feelings plain. "I don't like that we are going to play there and I don't agree with this," he said. "It's not fair for the competition. I don't like it and I don't think it's good for the players. For the clubs it is to expand their brand worldwide, that's probably what it's all about.

"I understand the position, but I do not share it. We always complain about the match schedule and the excess of travel."

He added: "The clubs are going to get paid for this, but I don't agree with playing a league game in Miami."

Ronald Koeman, the former Barcelona manager who now leads the Netherlands, backed De Jong's view. "It doesn't make any sense. It's ridiculous. Frenkie gives a good explanation. That's not fair. Villarreal–Barcelona is always a difficult away game for Barca and now they play it on neutral ground.

"There are more Barcelona fans in the stands than Villarreal fans. So it's not fair either," he said.

The move formed part of La Liga's long-term strategy to expand into the United States, but it immediately reignited debate over the balance between commercial growth and competitive fairness as the Spanish game prepared for an unprecedented fixture abroad.