La Liga and Serie A matches to be played abroad

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Controversial news from UEFA 

European league matches will be played abroad for the first time

Author | Olivia T

UEFA given approval for La Liga and Serie A to each host a match overseas this winter, marking the first time European league fixtures will be played on different continents in what could prove a highly contentious move.

La Liga sides Villarreal and Barcelona will now meet in Miami in December in what would be the first European league fixture held outside Europe.

Super News Football 2025 | Club World Cup | Hard Rock Stadium Miami
The Hard Rock Stadium in Miami hosted games in the Club World Cup

In February, AC Milan’s Serie A match against Como is set to take place in Perth, Australia.

As expected, this announcement has caused a lot of reaction and analysis from football fans across Europe and the rest of the world. One Barcelona fan from the United States told us: "I don't want this. If you want to watch your team play, you should go the city they're based in. They shouldn't come to you as it's a massive slap in the face for local, loyal fans."

What impact could this announcement have?

UEFA said it consulted stakeholders and found a "widespread lack of support" for league matches being played abroad, reflecting concerns raised by fans, other leagues, clubs, players and European institutions.

Super News Football 2025 | La Liga | Barcelona v Real Sociedad | View from near the halfway line
Barcelona's recent La Liga match against Real Sociedad

The organisation added that world governing body FIFA’s regulatory framework is "not clear and detailed enough" for it to block the plans.

FIFA established a working group last year to examine the impact of playing competitive domestic matches overseas.

Last year, La Liga had proposed staging Barcelona against Atletico Madrid in Miami but abandoned the plan due to time constraints.

We'd love to get your thoughts on these controversial developments.

What are your thoughts on this? Article coming soon on European Super Football | eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com

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— Super News Affiliate (@eurosuperfootball.bsky.social) 6 October 2025 at 19:15

In 2019, Barcelona also considered holding a league match against Girona in Miami, but the proposal was scrapped following opposition from Spain’s football association and players’ union.

Other one-off matches, including the Italian Super Cup and Spanish Super Cup, have been held abroad in recent years.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said in August there are no plans to stage an English top-flight match overseas.

The notion of the Premier League holding a so-called '39th game' outside England was discussed in 2008 but shelved after criticism from fans and the media.

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