LaLiga, Villarreal CF and Atlético de Madrid have submitted a formal request to the Spanish Football Federation to play the LaLiga Matchday 16 match between the two clubs at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Fla. Dec. 6 at 6 p.m., it was revealed Thursday.

The teams were chosen because both clubs wanted to play overseas.

The United States, and Miami in particular, are an essential part of continued growth strategy, according to a press release.

Villarreal CF has been working for several years in the North American market through the presence of academies and has run several training and marketing activities in the region.

Atlético de Madrid recently took part in a USA summer tour. The club also participated in the MLS all-star game in Orlando, Fla.

The Association of Spanish Footballers also has been informed of the request.

“Atlético de Madrid works every season to expand and improve our brand across all continents and this match in the United States will allow us to keep working on this,” CEO Miguel Angel Gil said in a statement. “Futhermore, we will be able to bring Spanish football closer to fans who live outside of our country.”

Villareal president Fernando Roig echoed Gil’s remarks.

“Exporting football and Spanish sport is good for everyone, and four this includes ourselves,” he said in another statement. “The United States is a very important country, where Villarreal already has official academies and and carries out different activities for the development of football. For this reason it will be very special for us to be able to play there. We have thought of many different compensation plans for our season ticket holders so that this can be a positive experience for everyone.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.