Christian Pulisic and Milan take Serie A global in Australia: Venue for Como clash, reason for relocation, and everything fans should know

In a groundbreaking move that has left fans and officials across Europe stunned, UEFA has officially approved Milan’s request to play a Serie A fixture abroad, making history in the process. The match, which will feature Christian Pulisic’s Milan facing Como, is set to become the first-ever Serie A league game to be played outside of Italy. While the decision has sparked both excitement and controversy, many are wondering at which venue and why this particular fixture will take place so far from home.

The decision marks a significant shift in UEFA’s long-standing stance. The European governing body has repeatedly insisted that “league matches should be played on home soil.” Yet, this week, UEFA made a rare exception.

After weeks of deliberation and consultations with national federations, the UEFA Executive Committee reluctantly agreed to greenlight two domestic fixtures abroad — Milan vs. Como in Serie A and Barcelona vs. Villarreal in La Liga, which will be held in Miami later this year.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin addressed the issue in an official statement, emphasizing that the decision was made “on an exceptional basis.” He stated: “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions. While it is regrettable to have to let these two games go ahead, this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.”

He reiterated that UEFA’s commitment remains “to protect the integrity of national leagues and ensure that soccer remains anchored in its home environment.”

The initial request by Milan and Como, in collaboration with Lega Serie A, was met with skepticism. Many viewed it as a marketing experiment, while others feared it could open the door for future league games to leave European soil.

However, as Serie A president Ezio Simonelli explained, what started as a scheduling problem soon turned into an opportunity: “A contingency turned into an opportunity. This game will be a symbol of Italian soccer’s global reach and innovation.”