The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has reluctantly given its approval for two high-profile domestic league matches — one in La Liga and one in Serie A — to be played outside of Europe during the 2025-26 season, a move immediately met with promises that the decision will “not be seen as setting a precedent.”
The European governing body’s executive committee on Monday approved La Liga’s plan for Villarreal vs. Barcelona to be played in Miami, Florida, in December, and Serie A’s proposal for AC Milan vs. Como to take place in Perth, Australia, in February.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin underscored the organization’s unease with the decision, citing a lack of a clear regulatory framework from FIFA to block the matches.
”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,” Ceferin said in a statement.
Opposition and Concerns
The decision follows strong opposition from European fan groups, who have branded the move as detrimental to the tradition and integrity of European football. Ceferin acknowledged these concerns, stating his clear philosophical objection to the export of domestic fixtures.
”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.
La Liga has pushed for the Miami match as part of a strategy to expand its international footprint. The Serie A fixture, however, was primarily moved to avoid a scheduling conflict, as AC Milan’s San Siro stadium will be occupied for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
Regulatory Gap
UEFA’s “reluctant” approval highlights a regulatory gap at the global level. The governing body stated that despite its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country, the current FIFA statutes did not provide a clear path to legally prevent the games from taking place once the respective national federations (Spain and Italy) had given their consent.
UEFA confirmed it will now “actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA” to ensure future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and protect the bond between clubs and their local communities.
