By Andy Marston, Sports Pundit
UEFA has given exceptional approval for LaLiga and Serie A to each stage a league match abroad this season, the first time domestic games in Europe will be played on different continents.
Barcelona will face Villarreal in Miami this December, while Milan will meet Como in Perth, Australia in February.
The governing body said the decision was made “reluctantly” due to regulatory ambiguity within FIFA’s framework, stressing that it does not set a precedent and reaffirming its opposition to moving league fixtures outside home countries.
The move follows a legal settlement between FIFA and U.S. promoter Relevent Sports, which had challenged FIFA’s previous ban on overseas league matches.
UEFA acknowledged the risk of legal challenge if it blocked the games and urged FIFA to clarify global rules to prevent future disputes.
Why It Matters:
For now, UEFA insists this is a one-off, but that precedent (despite what UEFA says) may prove difficult to contain, particularly as promoters and rights-holders chase global reach and year-round content in an increasingly competitive calendar.
While leagues see overseas fixtures as a route to new fans and commercial growth, critics argue it risks alienating local supporters and undermining the integrity of domestic competition.
However, it’s also worth recognising that much of European football’s success (and by extension UEFA’s) is powered by international talent and global audiences, both in terms of player appeal and the billions in media rights and sponsorship that flow into its leagues and competitions each year.
So yes, there’s a need to protect local fans, but also there should be an acknowledgement that if you build a product with global appeal, this is ultimately the result of that success.
.png)
