European football is on the brink of a major change – but not everyone is on board.
Plans to stage La Liga and Serie A fixtures outside Europe have drawn fierce criticism, most notably from EU Sport Commissioner Glenn Micallef,
who branded the idea a “betrayal” of European football’s roots.
The Controversial Plans
La Liga: Barcelona vs Villarreal (Matchday 17) is set to be played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December 2025.
Serie A: AC Milan vs Como (Matchday 24) is scheduled for Perth, Australia in February 2026, as San Siro will be unavailable during the
Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
Both matches still require the green light from UEFA and FIFA, but if approved, they would become the
first-ever regular-season European league matches held outside Europe.
EU Pushback
Micallef expressed strong opposition on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe.”
The Commissioner argued that moving league games abroad undermines the bond between clubs and their communities,
echoing concerns voiced by Football Supporters Europe (FSE), a group representing fans across more than 50 UEFA member countries.
Lessons From the Super League Saga
Micallef warned the proposal could become the “first big stress test for governance since the Super League”, highlighting the importance of the
European Sport Model, which relies on strong, community-based clubs rather than profit-driven global expansion.
American Influence
Supporters of the idea point to American sports leagues that have successfully staged games abroad:
The NFL has hosted 55 international regular-season games since 2007, with seven more scheduled in 2025.
The NBA and MLB have also experimented with overseas fixtures, albeit less frequently.
Proponents argue that global matches can boost commercial growth and expand fanbases. Critics counter that football’s unique community ties make the
European model unsuited to such experiments.
What’s Next?
Whether La Liga’s Miami match or Serie A’s Perth fixture will proceed remains uncertain.
With UEFA, FIFA, fans, and now the EU weighing in, the debate has only just begun. One thing is clear:
the tug-of-war between tradition and globalisation will shape the future of European football for years to come.