Official: UEFA allow AC Milan vs. Como Serie A match in Australia

While insisting they are against domestic league matches being played outside the home country, UEFA have given permission for AC Milan and Como to face off in Serie A in Perth, Australia.

The matter had been put on pause at the meeting of the Executive Committee in Tirana last month so that UEFA could undergo further consultation over the issue.

It was not just Milan vs. Como that had requested permission to play abroad, but also Barcelona’s LaLiga match against Villarreal, which is planned for Miami, USA.

UEFA have now made a decision, as while formally reiterating “its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country,” it recognised these two incidents on an “exceptional basis.”

Why Milan and Como want to play Serie A match in Australia

Milan and Como, in conjunction with the Lega Serie A, asked to play the game in Australia in February 2026.

This is because the Stadio Meazza, known as San Siro, will be occupied by the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

As for the LaLiga fixture, Barcelona and Villarreal now have permission to play their match in Miami on December 20, 2025.

“League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions,” said UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin.

“Our consultation confirmed the breadth of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible engagement on such a sensitive issue.

“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.

“Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains anchored in its home environment.”

The UEFA statement reiterated that these are exceptional circumstances and should not be treated as a precedent.

“Given that the relevant FIFA regulatory framework – currently under review – is not clear and detailed enough, the UEFA Executive Committee has reluctantly taken the decision to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests referred to it. UEFA will actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future rules uphold the integrity of domestic competitions and the close bond between clubs, their supporters and local communities.

“In parallel, all UEFA national associations confirmed their commitment to engage with UEFA before submitting any future requests. In doing so, they voiced their collective determination to safeguard the wider interests of European football.”