UEFA يوافق على مضض لإقامة مباراتين خارج أوروبا

UEFA confirmed in a statement its reluctant approval for two matches to be held outside Europe, while simultaneously opposing the hosting of domestic league matches abroad. Two exceptional requests were approved due to existing regulatory gaps at the global level.

The match between Barcelona and Villarreal in the Spanish league will take place in Miami, USA, in late December, while the match between Milan and Como in the Italian league will be held in Perth, Australia, in early February.


UEFA clarified that it is committed to upholding the integrity of domestic competitions and the views of fans in the upcoming FIFA regulations, reiterating its clear opposition to hosting domestic league matches outside the home country.

In the media statement, it said: “Following a meeting of its executive committee in Tirana last month, UEFA conducted further consultations with stakeholders to assess the impact of this issue, following the requests received from the national football associations of Spain and Italy.”

The statement added: “These consultations confirmed a lack of widespread support, which had previously been raised by fans, other federations, clubs, players, and European institutions regarding the idea of moving domestic league matches abroad. However, given that the relevant FIFA regulatory framework - currently under review - is unclear and not detailed enough, the UEFA executive committee reluctantly decided to approve, on an exceptional basis, the two requests submitted to it. UEFA will actively contribute to the ongoing work led by FIFA to ensure that future regulations maintain the integrity of domestic competitions and the close ties between clubs, their fans, and local communities.”

The statement concluded: “In parallel, all national associations under UEFA confirmed their commitment to consult with UEFA before submitting any future requests. Thus, they expressed their collective determination to protect the broader interests of European football.”

For his part, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin spoke about this decision, stating: “League matches must be held at home; anything else would deprive loyal fans of their right to attend matches and could lead to distorting factors in competitions. Our consultations have confirmed the extent of these concerns. I would like to thank the 55 national associations for their constructive and responsible participation in this sensitive issue.”

He concluded by saying: “While it is unfortunate to allow these two matches to take place, this decision is exceptional and should not be seen as a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that football remains rooted in its local environment.”