Uefa has given its go-ahead for La Liga and Serie A to play one match each abroad this winter, paving the way for European domestic league fixtures to be staged on different continents for the first time. The decision, described by European football's governing body as 'reluctant' and 'exceptional', means Barcelona are set to face Villarreal in Miami in December and Milan will play Como in Perth, Australia, in February, subject to formal approval from Fifa.
In a statement, Uefa said it had 'reiterated its clear opposition' to domestic league matches being played outside their home country. It added that, because the relevant Fifa regulatory framework is 'not clear and detailed enough', its executive committee had 'reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it'. The approval follows a round of consultation prompted by a backlash from supporters' groups and criticism from within the European Commission.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin sought to play down fears that the move would open the floodgates. 'League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,' he 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.'
Senior Uefa figures believe a legal standoff with the plans' proponents had to be avoided, amid concerns that losing such a case could have led to many more overseas fixtures. The regulatory loophole first emerged last year when US-based promoter Relevent Sports settled a lawsuit with Fifa over its policy banning league games from taking place overseas. Fifa had blocked a Relevent request in 2018 to stage Barcelona versus Girona in Miami, but no substantive rule changes have followed, and a working group set up in 2024 to examine the issue has yet to reach conclusions.
Football Supporters Europe acknowledged Uefa's opposition in principle but called on authorities to rule out any repeat. 'The onus is now on Fifa to plug this regulatory gap,' it said, urging La Liga and Serie A to withdraw their plans 'for the greater good of football'. The Premier League has indicated it will not follow suit in requesting to relocate domestic fixtures.
