Uefa faces a critical decision this week as it considers approving requests from La Liga and Serie A to play domestic league matches overseas. The move, described as the biggest existential threat to European football since the Super League, could see Barcelona face Villarreal in Miami this December and Milan play Como in Perth, Australia, next February.
The Uefa executive committee meets in Tirana on Thursday to vote on the proposals, which are expected to be approved on an exceptional basis rather than as a blanket policy. If Uefa gives the green light, the final decision rests with Fifa, likely at a council meeting on 2 October. Fifa is seen as unlikely to oppose the plans, having settled a lawsuit with promoter Relevent Sports last year that limits its ability to block such games.
Opposition has emerged, with German football league supervisory board chair Hans-Joachim Watzke stating the Bundesliga will not follow suit. However, senior figures believe blocking the games would require a change to Uefa's statutes that cannot be made quickly. The precedent, once set, is expected to be irreversible, with Serie A president Ezio Simonelli having expressed a desire to play the entire first round abroad.
The push for overseas matches dates back to 2018, when La Liga and Relevent attempted to stage Barcelona vs Girona in Miami, only to be blocked by Fifa. Relevent subsequently sued, and the settlement has left little legal room for opposition. Relevent, which was awarded global commercial rights to Uefa's club competitions for 2027-2033, has been a driving force behind the initiative.
Fifa established a working group in May 2024 to review rules on relocating domestic league games, but it has met only twice, with no outcomes yet. Supporter organisations are not represented in the 15-member group, which includes La Liga president Javier Tebas, Relevent CEO Daniel Sillman, and representatives from the US and Saudi federations. Revised regulations are not expected until the end of 2024 at the earliest.
