UEFA has reluctantly approved two league matches, one from Serie A and one from LaLiga, to be played outside Europe, the European football governing body confirmed on Monday.
The LaLiga fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal will take place in Miami in late December, while AC Milan’s Serie A match against Como is scheduled for early February in Perth, Australia. Milan chose the foreign venue as their home stadium, San Siro, will be unavailable while the city and stadium prepare to host the Winter Olympics opening ceremony on 6 February.
Spain’s LaLiga has pursued a transatlantic expansion strategy for nearly a decade, inspired by the NFL and NBA’s efforts to establish themselves in international markets.
UEFA’s Executive Committee approved the move as an exception but emphasised that FIFA’s regulatory framework, currently under review, lacks clarity and detail on such matters. UEFA reiterated its fundamental opposition to league matches being played abroad.
“League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,” UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin said. “While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.”
Italy’s Serie A welcomed UEFA’s decision. League President Ezio Simonelli described the necessity of playing in Perth as an opportunity to engage Italian football fans who would otherwise not attend the match live.
“For us, a contingency due to the unavailability of San Siro Stadium has turned into an opportunity to satisfy the many fans of Italian football, who will have the chance to watch the match live in Perth,” Simonelli said. “It’s also a chance for both teams and Italian football to increase international visibility and grow their fan base.”
Simonelli acknowledged the challenges for supporters, as the match will take place nearly 13,800 km (8,575 miles) from Milan, six hours ahead in time. However, he expressed confidence that fans of Milan and Como, who would not have been able to attend the game at the San Siro, will understand the sacrifice involved for the greater benefit of the teams.
