UEFA says yes to Milan-like in Perth

Milan-like in Perth and Villarreal-Barcelona in Miami: in the end it is yes. Suffered, but yes. Serie A and Liga trips to Australia and the USA were approved “exceptionally”. A historical decision: for the first time two games of national championships will be played abroad. UEFA unlocked the situation with a decision, also thanks to the mediation of President Gravina, after postponing the decision that was already expected in the September executive. The words of President Ceferin are clear: “The championship matches should be played at home; any other solution would deprive the most faithful fans and potentially introduce distorting elements in competitions. Our consultation has confirmed the breadth of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national federations for their constructive and responsible commitment on such a delicate issue. Although it is deplorable to have to give up these two games. decision is exceptional and must not be considered a precedent.

Gravina intervention

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Milan-like will be played on 7 or 8 February 2026, given that San Siro is not accessible for the winter Olympics. Villarreal-Barcelona even before, on December 20th. The clubs involved agreed, ditto leghe, everything ok for the federations of Australia and the USA, and there is great optimism on the FIFA position that is working on a change of regulations to erase the absolute ban on the “trips” of the championships. However, Nyon’s ok was missing, not convinced of opening a door that could become a highway in the absence of complete legislation. Ceferin’s “no” would have blocked everything. Gravina, Vicario Vicario Uefa, presented a report that convinced the members of the executive yesterday. Gravina explained the meaning of her proposal, asking for an “exceptional” positive decision on the requests presented by the FIGC and the Spanish Football Federation. Now the organizational machine is set in motion.

Principles for FIFA

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Of course, Gravina’s goal is not to trigger a series of requests from Liga, Premier, Bundesliga tomorrow, internationalizing the national tournaments, increasing the difficulties of the calendars (as if they were not a few) and denying the fans the opportunity to attend a game in their stadium. On the contrary, the UEFA number two recommended an executive intervention to strengthen the role of Nyon in approving national competitions outside the UEFA territory where, as a rule, they should always play. The derogation-as for Milan-Perth and Villarreal-Barcelona-should be allowed only in “exceptional circumstances, subject to rigorous and transparent criteria”, protecting the regularity of the tournaments, with the consent of the alloys and clubs (in particular those involved in these “away” matches). Gravina also invited UEFA to communicate these principles to FIFA which is working on the approval of the new rules.

Milan and Perth

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AC Milan has invested resources and diplomacy for some time, most of all in Italy. The bond with Perth intensified a lot in recent years and took off on May 31, 2024, when Milan and Rome went to play the Optus Stadium a friendly of the end of the season. Not very welcome by the players but strategic for earnings on the event and (above all) visibility in a strategic area. That day, 56,000 people arrived at the stadium, for the first meeting ever between two Italian teams in Australian territory: a success. Not by chance, Milan replied and in the summer of 2025 he played Perth the third game of his tour in the East, after having made a stop in Singapore and Hong Kong. It was July 31: Perth Glory-Milan 0-9. The team remained in the city for a few days but found the time to meet both the government and the Perth community representatives and participate in social initiatives: cage, Ricci, Musah and Filippo Terracciano visited some patients of the Perth Children Hospital. Moreover, the Milan Foundation in Australia has promoted social activities such as the “Welcome Football” project (football as an inclusion tool for children from migratory contexts) and contributed to developing football for the blind.

Organizational issues

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The fans, of course, will live a particular weekend. Most of the Milan players will follow Milan-like from home and the subscribers to San Siro will have a refund. Some controversy on social networks, by the way, has already made a wide and possible will return to February. Those who want to organize themselves and go to Australia to see the game can do it now, knowing that he will find company: Milan has a fan club in Perth, born in 2024 and reached 200 members, and groups of fans in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. The good news is the weather: at the end of Italian winter, temperatures are expected between 20 and 30 degrees in Perth. The travel theme is more complex, because the Milan-Perth-Milan trip implies two flights of 20 hours each (reasonably with a stopover in Doha, Dubai or Kuala Lumpur) and, if booked today, it would cost 1,200 euros plus hotel and ticket for the optus stadium. The visa is not needed. In return, a few days in a different context, the visit to Elizabeth Quay (let’s say the modern district on the banks of the Swan River) and a game that, however goes, will be historical.