Back
Afolabi Ezekiel - October 9, 2025
In recent months, the debate about playing domestic league matches outside their home countries has reignited global football conversations. With Serie A planning to stage a match between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, and La Liga proposing a Villarreal vs Barcelona fixture in Miami, football is entering a new era that challenges its traditional roots. While leagues see this as an opportunity to globalize and expand revenue, critics, especially players and fans believe the move threatens football’s essence.
One of the main reasons leagues want to move games abroad is to reach new audiences. Serie A said playing games in Australia would introduce new audiences to the excellence of Italian football and boost its global visibility. For leagues like Serie A and La Liga, which have struggled to match the Premier League’s commercial success, these matches are viewed as a way to attract international sponsors, increase broadcasting rights, and grow fan bases in booming football markets like the U.S, Asia, and Australia.
The idea isn’t entirely new, European clubs have long traveled overseas for pre-season tours and Super Cup matches. Spain and Italy already host their Super Cups in Saudi Arabia, and these games have brought in significant financial returns. In many ways, moving league matches abroad is a natural next step for leagues chasing global commercial growth.
While the financial appeal is undeniable, critics argue that money is being prioritized over fans. As AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot put it, playing a domestic game in Australia is “completely crazy” and “really absurd.” His frustration reflects a growing concern among players and supporters about how such long travels affect player health and fan connection.
Traditional supporters, especially local ones, feel left behind. Moving a match between two Italian teams halfway across the world means home fans lose the chance to support their team in person. UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin captured this sentiment when he said such plans “disenfranchise loyal match going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions.”
For many, the emotional side of football lies in the connection between clubs and their locals. Taking games abroad, even temporarily, risks weakening that bond. Fans’ associations, such as Football Supporters Europe (FSE), have called the idea “a direct attack on the essence of football.”
Beyond fan sentiment, player welfare is another serious issue. Flying teams across continents for competitive fixtures adds extreme travel demands in already congested schedules. “It’s crazy to travel so many kilometers,” Rabiot said, highlighting the strain such journeys could have on athletes’ bodies and recovery times.
Unlike pre-season friendlies, league matches have competitive stakes such as points, titles, and relegation battles are on the line. Long-distance travel before or after such games could affect performance levels, recovery, and even the fairness of the competition. The time difference, climate, and limited preparation time all add complications that could disadvantage the teams involved.
UEFA’s decision to reluctantly approve these matches marks a major turning point. Traditionally, both UEFA and FIFA have blocked such moves, citing threats to competitive integrity. However, UEFA admitted that current global regulations are “not clear and detailed enough” to stop leagues from experimenting.
This legal uncertainty stems from a lawsuit filed in 2019 by Relevent Sports, a U.S-based sports company, challenging FIFA’s right to restrict domestic games abroad. The case forced football’s governing bodies to revisit their laws, and now, with UEFA’s reluctant approval, the door is slightly open for more leagues to follow.
Still, UEFA insists this decision is exceptional and not a precedent. However, the truth is, once leagues taste the benefits of international exposure and commercial gain, it may be hard to reverse the trend.
One of the biggest arguments against moving matches abroad is the potential imbalance it creates. Domestic leagues operate on fairness; each team plays home and away games under similar conditions. Taking one of those matches overseas removes that equality.
For example, a home game in Miami or Perth cannot replicate the same crowd energy, weather, or stadium atmosphere that a team would enjoy in its real home ground. This shift might seem minor, but at the professional level, such details often determine outcomes in tightly contested leagues.
If these pilot games succeed, more leagues could follow suit. The U.S. is the most likely destination given its growing football market and upcoming 2026 World Cup. Australia, Saudi Arabia, and India have also shown interest, with their governments and private investors ready to pay top dollar for hosting rights.
La Liga president Javier Tebas has been particularly vocal about his ambition to make overseas fixtures a regular occurrence, seeing them as a way to compete with the Premier League’s global dominance. Similarly, Serie A’s leadership believes that occasional international matches are a small sacrifice that could yield global rewards.
While governing bodies and league executives see globalization as the future, fans and players remain unconvinced. They fear the sport is drifting too far from its roots, away from the communities, and traditions that make football more than just a business.
UEFA’s reluctant approval captures this tension perfectly, stating that football wants to grow, but not at the cost of its identity. If leagues begin to normalize overseas matches, the unique home and away rhythm that defines European football could change forever.
In conclusion, the move to take league matches abroad sits at the intersection of commerce and culture. On one hand, it promises exposure, growth, and new revenue streams for leagues struggling to keep up financially. On the other, it risks alienating the very supporters who give football its heartbeat.
As Rabiot said, it may seem “completely crazy” now, but in a rapidly globalizing sport, the line between tradition and modernity is becoming increasingly blurred. The coming years will reveal whether these moves truly expand football’s reach or erode its soul.
