The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has approved La Liga's request for Villarreal's home game against Barcelona to be played in Miami.

Soccer fans in the U.S. have long been used to seeing some of Europe's biggest clubs play exhibition matches and friendlies during the summer, but now Spain's LaLiga is closer to hosting a regular-season match stateside. And it would include the league's defending champions.

Real Madrid issued a statement on Tuesday opposing La Liga's plans to move Barcelona's match at Villarreal to the U.S. in December, arguing the decision would compromise the competitive integrity of Spain's top flight.