EU Commissioner slams plans to take European football games abroad

European football is bracing for a historic shift that has sparked strong opposition from Brussels.

As Spain’s La Liga and Italy’s Serie A prepare to host their first-ever domestic league fixtures outside Europe, EU Sport Commissioner Glenn Micallef has opposed the move, saying he is “deeply disappointed” by the proposals.

“To me it’s clear: European competitions must be played in Europe. European football must stay in Europe,” Micallef wrote on X, calling the idea “betrayal” rather than innovation.

His comments followed a meeting with Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, a supporters’ association spanning more than 50 UEFA member countries. The group has long opposed exporting league matches abroad, arguing it undermines the bond between clubs and their communities.

The Spanish Football Federation has already approved plans for La Liga's matchday 17, Barcelona vs Villarreal, to be played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on 20 December.

Meanwhile, Italy’s Federation has backed Serie A’s request to stage Serie A's matchday 24, AC Milan vs Como in Perth, Australia, in February 2026, as AC Milan's San Siro stadium will be unavailable then due to the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

Both games await final authorisation from relevant governing bodies such as UEFA and FIFA. If confirmed, they would mark the first regular-season matches from major European leagues held outside the continent—potentially setting a precedent for future relocations.

Micallef warned the situation could become “the first big stress test for governance since the Super League,” insisting that strong, community-based clubs are central to the European Sport Model.

The debate mirrors trends in American sports, where staging games abroad is now routine.

The American football league NFL, has been the most aggressive, organising 55 international regular-season games since 2007, with seven more scheduled in 2025 alone.

The US baseball league MLB and the US basketball league NBA have also experimented with international fixtures, though less consistently.

Whether European football follows the same path remains uncertain, but resistance from both fans and policymakers suggests the battle is only beginning.