The Italian Serie A’s Historic Proposal
The Italian Serie A is exploring the possibility of hosting a football match between AC Milan and Como in Australia, marking a significant milestone as the potential first European domestic league match to take place outside of Europe. This historic game could be held in Perth, Australia, over the weekend of February 7-8, 2026.
Scheduling Challenges at Iconic Venues
Currently, the matchup is scheduled for Milan’s iconic San Siro stadium, but the venue will be occupied for the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 6. Normally, both Milan and Inter Milan share this stadium for their home games, alternating matchdays to avoid conflicts. However, during the Winter Olympic activities, both teams will have home fixtures on the season’s inaugural weekend against Cremonese and Torino, respectively, to alleviate scheduling issues in the bustling city.
Legal Breakthroughs and International Matches
For many years, Serie A matches were restricted to local play, but a breakthrough occurred in April 2023 when Relevent Sports settled a six-year legal battle with the U.S. Soccer Federation, opening new paths for European leagues to stage matches internationally. Following this settlement, FIFA established a working group in May 2024, reviewing existing regulations that could permit league games abroad.
“While only one formal meeting has been conducted, there is optimism within the footballing community regarding potential changes to FIFA’s policies, which are anticipated to pave the way for future matches like the one being proposed in Australia.”
Potential Hosting Locations and Global Interest
Discussions are currently focused on locating the Milan-Como contest at Perth’s Optus Stadium. As deliberations progress, a final decision has yet to be made. The interest in holding Serie A games internationally is not limited to Australia; promoters have also eyed Abu Dhabi for hosting such matches.
Comparative Approaches by Other European Leagues
Other European leagues, including Spain’s La Liga and England’s Premier League, have previously expressed interest in international fixtures. La Liga’s pursuit of this concept is particularly notable; the league attempted to host a match between Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in Miami earlier this season, but was unsuccessful amid organizational challenges and internal strife within the Spanish Football Federation.
In the past, the Premier League contemplated a concept involving a ’39th game’ to be played outside the UK, but faced vehement opposition from fans and FIFA itself, leading to a retraction of that idea. Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters recently reiterated the league’s position, emphasizing that there are currently no plans to replicate such a strategy.
Conclusion
As Serie A moves forward with its proposal, it signifies a potential shift in how domestic football can be experienced globally, highlighting ongoing efforts to enhance international fan engagement.
