AC Milan and Como to Play First-Ever Serie A Match in Australia
AC Milan and Como are set to make history as they prepare to play the first-ever Serie A match outside Italy in Perth, Australia, despite criticism and opposition from fans and local football associations.
“Serie A must do the right thing in the face of growing isolation...”
Pressure group Football Supporters Europe is urging Italy's Serie A to scrap plans for a regular season match between Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, following La Liga's decision to cancel a similar proposal in Spain.
La Liga recently announced it would no longer pursue a US-based regular season fixture between Villarreal and Barcelona due to backlash from players and fans. This move has emboldened critics of Serie A's plans, who argue that hosting a match in Perth would be a step too far.
WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti said she's “very confident” that the necessary sanctions will be secured soon, stating she's been checking her phone "every 10 minutes” for updates.
“This is a seismic victory for European football and everyone who believes the game belongs at the heart of our communities – now it's time for Serie A to drop its plans too,” FSE said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Serie A must do the right thing in the face of growing isolation ... The position of players and supporters in Italy is crystal clear: doubling down on this failed idea would be an act of self-inflicted damage to the league's reputation, to Italian football, and to the game as a whole.
“The game has no place 15,000 kilometres away from its home.”
Serie A had not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing, with the inquiry being made outside of regular business hours.
Milan has secured reluctant approval from UEFA to host their February match against Como at Perth Stadium, as their home ground, San Siro, will be unavailable due to the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. However, the match still requires final clearance from Football Australia, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and FIFA.
The prospect of hosting the Serie A fixture in Perth has sparked controversy, with La Liga recently abandoning a similar plan to host a match in the US. Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot has criticized the idea as “crazy” and “absurd,” while Como has argued that global exposure is vital for the league's survival.
The AFC is reportedly facing external pressure to block the match, and FIFA has expressed concerns about the implications of hosting domestic league matches abroad. UEFA's stance on the matter has also shifted, with the governing body now urging Serie A to reconsider the plan.
If the match goes ahead, it would be a historic event, marking the first time a Serie A match has been played outside of Europe. The potential revenue from the match is estimated to be around $14 million, with the majority going to Milan. However, the decision ultimately hinges on the approvals from the AFC and FIFA.
The upcoming Serie A match between AC Milan and Como in Perth, Australia, marks uncharted territory for Italian football. While top European clubs often play pre-season friendlies globally, this would be the first official Serie A game outside Italy.
Milan's Adrien Rabiot recently expressed his reservations about the move, calling it “crazy” and "absurd.” However, Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo swiftly dismissed Rabiot's concerns, emphasizing that players should be grateful for their lucrative salaries and respect their employers' decisions.
“The NFL and NBA have been playing away from the U.S. for years, with the concept of being a global product," De Siervo added.
"We believe ... that this can be a model that the world of football, with precise rules, must follow if it is not to lose out to other sports.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Australian FA has given the green light to host Milan-Como in Perth in February 2026, so the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA now need to give their final approval. pic.twitter.com/glFhokgCWv
— Football Italia (@footballitalia) October 24, 2025
Western Australian Government officials, including Sports Minister Rita Saffioti, expressed confidence that Serie A won't cancel plans to host AC Milan vs Como 1907 in Perth, despite criticism and opposition from fans and local football associations.
“We've had some very supportive comments overnight from the Italian league, so we're very confident,” WA Sports Minister Rita Saffioti told the ABC on Wednesday.
"We're waiting for the Asian Football Confederation to sanction.
"Basically, every ten minutes I'm checking my phone, so it should happen in the next week, next few days, but that's what we're waiting on.”
🗣️ Mike Maignan on Milan vs Como being played in Australia... 🇦🇺✈️
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) October 14, 2025
"Today, we think a lot about the financial aspect, but we forget things. It remains an Italian championship match, I don't understand why it's being played abroad." 🤷 (@RMCsport) pic.twitter.com/9SWKYmuQvJ
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