The Spanish league is closer to playing its first-ever 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, with a game between Barcelona and Girona, 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 first attempt for a league match in the U.S. cam

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