The plan to send Christian Pulisic’s Milan halfway across the world for a historic Serie A fixture has stunned fans, irritated ultras, and forced European soccer to rethink what domestic games should look like. Yet beneath the hype surrounding Milan versus Como in Australia lies a deeper concern — a bureaucratic obstacle still unresolved, and an impending decision that could determine whether this match becomes a landmark moment or collapses entirely. And at the heart of the uncertainty sits FIFA, the one organization capable of clearing the path or blocking it altogether.
UEFA has already shocked traditionalists by approving Milan’s request, officially granting permission for the first Serie A match in history to be played outside Italy. The governing body framed the decision with reluctance, reminding clubs of the long-standing principle that domestic games belong on home soil.
Aleksander Ceferin, UEFA’s president, struck a firm yet resigned tone. “League matches should be played on home soil; anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions… this decision is exceptional and shall not be seen as setting a precedent.”
Despite the warnings, the plan surged forward — but only through necessity. San Siro will be unavailable in February 2026 because it will host the opening ceremony of the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. With no viable stadium nearby, the league proposed a radical alternative. Australia, with Perth eager to host, stepped in.
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The political and financial engine driving Perth’s bid
Italian Sports Minister Andrea Abodi embraced the proposal. He argued that, given the stadium emergency, the fixture abroad represents opportunity as much as compromise. “Milan–Como in Australia is probably the most suitable solution for the clubs,” Abodi said. “It is a good opportunity to promote Italian football… international revenues are a quarter of domestic ones, something is clearly wrong.”
Perth’s local authorities offered $14 million to host the game — a significant financial boost, with Milan receiving the largest share, and a portion of the funds distributed to other Serie A clubs. The match would take place at Optus Stadium, a modern 65,000-seat venue that can convert seamlessly to a soccer pitch.
Christian Pulisic of AC Milan celebrates with teammate Rafael Leao
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UEFA, FIGC, Australia… but still not enough
Despite the turbulence, several key approvals have already been secured: The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) authorized the fixture, UEFA granted its rare exception, and the Australian Football Federation (AFF) and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) signaled provisional approval — though with strict conditions still under review. But “provisional approval” is the key phrase. Because one signature — the most important of them all — remains missing.
Multiple Italian outlets, including Corriere della Sera and La Gazzetta dello Sport, confirm the same unresolved issue: The match cannot be officially moved abroad until FIFA gives the final, binding approval. According to Corriere, while the Asian Football Confederation has shown “a small sign of openness,” the authorization still depends on satisfying a complex list of regulatory and commercial requirements. Only after this stage can the proposal be forwarded to FIFA. Right now, it is FIFA’s dossier that determines whether the game will truly happen.
