A world first. It has been several weeks since the Spanish and Italian championships were pressure, they are rewarded. Indeed, UEFA has just granted the relocation of two meetings, Villarreal-Barcelona and AC Milan-Côme, outside their respective country. These posters will be held respectively on December 20 in Miami in the United States, and on February 8, 2026 in Perth in Australia.
A decision “Reluctantly”
However, this decision is far from pleased the European body. On the contrary, the executive committee speaks rather of a choice “Reluctantly”, taken “Exceptionally”, in its press release. The reasons? “A context of regulatory gaps worldwide”. The championships are therefore in their rights and cannot thus be refused from UEFA, since the “FIFA regulatory framework, currently being revised, lacks clarity and precision. »»
Despite everything, President Aleksander Ceferin wanted to recall his commitment to respecting the traditions of each league.
“Although it is regrettable to have to let these two games take place, this decision is exceptional and should not be considered as a precedent. Our commitment is clear: to protect the integrity of the national championships and guarantee that football remains anchored in its national environment. »»
