Serie A is close to staging a landmark league match in Australia, with either Inter or AC Milan reportedly heading to Perth.
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Serie A match could be staged outside Italy for first timeUEFA approval remains a key hurdleOptus Stadium hosted Milan vs Roma in May 2024Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Serie A is planning to host their first-ever league match abroad, with Perth's Optus Stadium in contention to stage the historic game. Inter and AC Milan's home, San Siro, will host the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony on February 6, meaning the stadium would be unavailable for either Italian side between the dates of January 10 and February 8. That, it's being reported, opens a window of opportunity to look to play a fixture on foreign soil.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (via Calcio Mercato), chief executive Luigi de Siervo received an offer to play a competitive league game in Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) reports that the offer is from Western Australia's tourism body, and a deal is nearly finalised. The Optus Stadium previously hosted a post-season friendly match between Roma and AC Milan, with over 56,000 fans in attendance. The SMH also confirmed that the successful turnout has strengthened Perth's case to host a competitive Serie A fixture over cities like Sydney and Melbourne.
WHAT SERIE A SAID
Serie A's marketing chief, Michele Ciccarese, has hinted that they aim to stage a regular-season match internationally, saying: “There are barriers, but we must find a respectful way to engage our global fans.” UEFA is yet to approve the Perth proposal, which remains a major obstacle.
WHAT NEXT?
Serie A will now await UEFA's green light before announcing the fixture as being official. If approved, the match will take place in early 2026 during San Siro’s Winter Olympics closure. Moreover, the league will push for a similar breakthrough in the USA by 2026, with a league game in the States having already been widely mooted.
