AC Milan vs Como in Australia? Serie A Eyes Historic First-Ever League Match Abroad Amid Winter Olympics Displacement.

Roger Hampel

Photo Credit: AC Milan

In what could mark the first competitive European league fixture played outside of Europe, Serie A is reportedly exploring plans to stage the AC Milan vs Como match in Australia during the 2025/26 season. The move, first reported by The Athletic, comes in response to logistical complications tied to the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will use San Siro for its opening ceremonies.

According to the report, discussions are underway between Serie A officials, AC Milan, Como 1907, and FIFA, with Optus Stadium in Perth under consideration as the host venue — a modern, 60,000-seat stadium already familiar with top-level sport and international events.

A Convergence of Globalisation and Infrastructure Conflict

The proposed fixture relocation stems from a practical reality: San Siro, home to both AC Milan and Inter, will be unavailable for several weeks in early 2026, as it is set to host the opening ceremonies of both the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As a result, both Milanese clubs are evaluating interim venue options — with Milan reportedly looking well beyond Italy’s borders.

At the same time, the industry backdrop is shifting. In January 2024, the Relevent Sports antitrust case was settled in the U.S., effectively removing FIFA’s longstanding legal block against holding competitive domestic league matches abroad. The ruling opened the door — at least legally — for European leagues to begin staging regular season fixtures overseas.

Why Australia? AC Milan Como Australia

While past attempts by La Liga (Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid in Miami) and the Premier League (the infamous “39th game” proposal) were either blocked or abandoned, the Milan–Como case has a unique structural justification: the match cannot be played at the designated home stadium due to Olympic obligations.

Rather than moving the fixture to another Italian ground, Serie A is seizing the moment to explore internationalisation — specifically tapping into Australia’s large Italian diaspora, growing football fanbase, and modern infrastructure.

Optus Stadium in Perth — which previously hosted Premier League friendlies involving Manchester United, Leeds United, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace — is understood to be one of the front-runners.

What This Means for Inter, Serie A, and FIFA

If approved, this could serve as a precedent — not only for Italian football but for European leagues broadly. It would be the first time a top-flight domestic league match counts in the table and is hosted on another continent.

The implications are wide-reaching:

• FIFA will face renewed pressure to formalise a global policy on competitive fixtures abroad.

• La Liga and other leagues may revisit past proposals with more legal clarity and public acceptance.

• Serie A could be first to deliver on a concept many have pitched but none have executed.

  
  

As The Athletic notes, this moment comes as FIFA “looks into its policies and considers changes to its laws to give the leagues a chance at catching more eyes worldwide.”

Commercial Framing: Audience, Branding, and Risk

For AC Milan and Como, the match offers clear upside:

• Brand exposure in Asia-Pacific and Oceania

• Commercial partnerships in new time zones

• Retail activations for new audiences

• A testbed for exporting the Serie A product

  
  

But it also carries risk:

• Possible backlash from domestic fan groups

• Logistical burdens on players and staff

• Competitive fairness issues related to travel and neutrality

  
  

Still, Serie A appears ready to test the global market. With Inter and Milan forced to relocate games regardless, the Italian league is approaching 2025/26 not just as a workaround — but as an opportunity to experiment with expansion strategy.