UEFA has reluctantly allowed La Liga and Serie A to host league matches abroad, sparking debate over football’s commercial expansion versus fan loyalty.
UEFA has confirmed that La Liga’s December clash between Barcelona and Villarreal will be played in Miami, while AC Milan will face Como in Perth, Australia, in February. The governing body admitted it was “reluctant” to approve the matches but said existing frameworks offered little room to reject them. The move means Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford could play in the U.S. if the arrangement holds.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said, “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans.” He emphasized that the decision “shall not be seen as setting a precedent.”
Premier League chief Richard Masters dismissed the idea of taking matches overseas, insisting, “We don’t have any plans to play matches abroad.” While other sports like the NFL have normalized international fixtures, football’s governing bodies remain divided on expanding beyond domestic borders.