Sensational/ "El Classico" could be played in... England

2025-01-28 20:56:00, Sport CNA

The hypothesis that the biggest match in Spanish football, "El Classico", will be played outside the borders of Spain is becoming more and more possible. With Barcelona and Real Madrid set to face off on May 11 in a challenge that could be decisive for the fate of the La Liga title, the Catalan club is considering the possibility of holding this meeting in a stadium that offers greater capacity than their current facility.

Barcelona are forced to play their matches at the Olympic Stadium due to construction work on the Camp Nou, which is expected to be ready for next season. The current stadium has a capacity of around 55,000 seats, a figure that does not meet the requirements for a match of such a large scale as El Classico.

For this reason, the Barcelona board is considering the possibility of holding the match in a larger and more prestigious stadium. Wembley has been mentioned as the most likely destination for this match, given that it is one of the most modern stadiums in the world and has a capacity of 90,000 seats.

For Barcelona, ??Wembley is not just a stadium, but a place with a special historical significance. It was on this ground that, in 1992, the Catalan club won the first European Cup in its history, triumphing against Sampdoria thanks to an unforgettable goal by Ronald Koeman. For Barcelona fans, a return to this stadium would be a nostalgic moment and a reminder of past glories.

However, such a move is not without obstacles. Under current FIFA rules, national leagues must play all their matches within the territorial borders of their respective countries. In order to make this challenge possible in England, it is necessary for the Spanish Football Federation and La Liga to obtain FIFA's approval, as the latter still has a clause that prohibits official matches from being played outside national territory.

An agreement between FIFA and Spanish football organizers could pave the way for this idea to come to fruition. If Barcelona manages to get the final green light from the relevant institutions, “El Classico” would become a historic precedent for La Liga, making this clash an unprecedented global event.