The European Union has voiced strong opposition to proposals for staging regular-season football matches outside Europe, describing the move as a betrayal of the sport’s traditions and community values.
EU Sports Commissioner Glenn Micallef warned that plans by Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A to host league fixtures abroad threaten the very identity of European football. “European competitions must be played in Europe. Taking them elsewhere is not progress but betrayal,” Micallef wrote on X, expressing his “deep disappointment” with the initiative.
His comments followed a meeting with Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, a network representing fans from more than 50 UEFA member associations. The group has consistently opposed relocating domestic fixtures overseas, arguing that such moves undermine the bond between clubs and their local communities.
The Spanish Football Federation has already approved La Liga’s decision to stage the Barcelona–Villarreal match in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December. Similarly, Italy’s football federation has backed Serie A’s proposal to hold AC Milan’s clash with Como in Perth, Australia, in February 2026. The San Siro will be unavailable at that time due to the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.
Both matches are still subject to authorisation from UEFA and FIFA. If ratified, they would mark the first competitive domestic league fixtures from Europe’s top divisions to be played outside the continent, potentially setting a precedent for future relocations.
Micallef cautioned that the issue could become “the first major stress test for governance since the Super League,” underscoring that Europe’s sporting model depends on clubs rooted in their communities.
The debate comes amid growing parallels with American sports, where international expansion is now routine. The NFL has staged 55 regular-season games abroad since 2007 and has seven more scheduled in 2025. Major League Baseball and the NBA have also experimented with overseas fixtures, though on a smaller scale.
Whether European football embraces a similar path remains to be seen. However, strong opposition from policymakers and supporters suggests that the battle over the future direction of the sport has only just begun.
