In a groundbreaking transfer that has left followers and officers throughout Europe surprised, UEFA has formally authorized Milan’s request to play a Serie A fixture overseas, making historical past within the course of. The match, which can characteristic Christian Pulisic’s Milan dealing with Como, is ready to turn out to be the first-ever Serie A league recreation to be performed outdoors of Italy. Whereas the choice has sparked each pleasure and controversy, many are questioning at which venue and why this explicit fixture will happen so removed from house.
The choice marks a big shift in UEFA’s long-standing stance. The European governing physique has repeatedly insisted that “league matches ought to be performed on house soil.” But, this week, UEFA made a uncommon exception.
After weeks of deliberation and consultations with nationwide federations, the UEFA Govt Committee reluctantly agreed to greenlight two home fixtures overseas — Milan vs. Como in Serie A and Barcelona vs. Villarreal in La Liga, which might be held in Miami later this 12 months.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin addressed the difficulty in an official assertion, emphasizing that the choice was made “on an distinctive foundation.” He said: “League matches ought to be performed on house soil; anything would disenfranchise loyal match-going followers and probably introduce distortive parts in competitions. Whereas it’s regrettable to need to let these two video games go forward, this resolution is outstanding and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.”
He reiterated that UEFA’s dedication stays “to guard the integrity of nationwide leagues and be sure that soccer stays anchored in its house setting.”
From controversy to alternative
The preliminary request by Milan and Como, in collaboration with Lega Serie A, was met with skepticism. Many considered it as a advertising experiment, whereas others feared it might open the door for future league video games to go away European soil.
Nevertheless, as Serie A president Ezio Simonelli defined, what began as a scheduling downside quickly was a possibility: “A contingency was a possibility. This recreation might be an emblem of Italian soccer’s world attain and innovation.”
UEFA’s assertion made clear that this may be a one-off exception as a consequence of “regulatory gaps at world degree.” The group urged FIFA to determine clearer guidelines relating to home matches overseas.
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates after scoring to provide the aspect a 3-0 lead throughout the Coppa Italia.
The true cause behind the transfer and the placement
Solely later did UEFA verify the actual cause behind the relocation: San Siro — Milan’s historic stadium — might be unavailable in February 2026 because it hosts the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Video games. With the venue occupied and no appropriate various close by, Milan and Como proposed transferring the fixture overseas, and the concept rapidly gathered momentum.
After discussions with worldwide companions, Australia emerged because the chosen vacation spot. The metropolis of Perth was significantly keen, providing monetary incentives and logistical assist to convey Serie A to its shores. In line with La Repubblica, Perth’s native authorities pays $14 million to host the sport, with Milan receiving the most important share of the proceeds, whereas a part of the sum might be distributed amongst different Serie A golf equipment.
The historic fixture might be performed at Optus Stadium, a state-of-the-art area in Perth able to internet hosting 65,000 followers for soccer occasions. Opened in 2018 and praised for its “fans-first design”, it provides an oval structure for Australian soccer and cricket however can simply convert to an oblong pitch.
