<p>In a groundbreaking decision announced on October 6, 2025, UEFA has officially approved <strong>AC Milan's Serie A fixture against Como</strong> to be played at <strong>Optus Stadium</strong> in Perth, Australia, in February 2026.</p> <p>This marks the first time in history that an official Serie A league match will be staged outside of Italy - although the UEFA claims “it does not set precedent.”</p> <h2>UEFA Grants "Exceptional" Approval</h2> <p>While formally reiterating its clear opposition to domestic league matches being played outside their home country, UEFA recognised this instance on an exceptional basis. The decision came after weeks of deliberation by the UEFA Executive Committee, which had initially paused the matter at their meeting in Tirana last month to undergo further consultation.</p> <p>UEFA President<strong> Aleksander Čeferin</strong> addressed the controversial decision, stating that league matches should be played on home soil, as anything else would disenfranchise loyal match-going fans and potentially introduce distortive elements in competitions.</p> <p>Despite this his position, the governing body ultimately granted permission due to extraordinary circumstances.</p> <p>The approval wasn't just for Milan and Como. Barcelona's LaLiga match against Villarreal, planned for Miami in December, also received UEFA's green light as part of the same exceptional approval process.</p> <h2>Why Australia? The Winter Olympics Connection</h2> <p>The primary reason for this unprecedented move stems from logistical necessity rather than pure commercial motivation. San Siro stadium will be unavailable during the fixture weekend as it hosts the opening ceremony of the <strong>2026 Winter Olympic Games </strong>in Milano-Cortina.</p> <p>The match is scheduled for February 8, 2026, though some sources indicate it could be played on February 7.</p> <p>While other Italian venues were considered, staging the game elsewhere in Italy was not seen as possible, and this pushed Italy’s FIGC to agree for the match to be played abroad.</p> <h2>Perth's Strong Connection with AC Milan</h2> <p>Perth's selection as the host city comes as no surprise given the established relationship between the West Australian capital and the Rossoneri. AC Milan previously played a friendly against AS Roma at Optus Stadium on May 31, 2024, demonstrating the venue's capacity to host major Italian football clubs.</p> <p>Milan also played Perth Glory in a pre-season friendly that took place on July 31 at the HBF Stadium. Despite the final 0-9 score that has seen the Serie A team win against the local heroes, the game has further strengthened ties with the local football community.</p> <p>The fixture is expected to strengthen the bond with local authorities, who see this as an opportunity to boost football's profile in Australia, particularly with Milan Club Perth.</p> <p>This fixture is anticipated to reinforce ties with local authorities. They view this as a chance to elevate football's standing in Australia, especially concerning Milan Club Perth.</p> <h2>What Happens Next?</h2> <p>While UEFA's approval represents the biggest hurdle cleared, the match isn't quite confirmed yet.</p> <p>FIFA still needs to give final clearance for the domestic league game to be played outside Italy, though reports suggest this approval should arrive over the next few days as FIFA typically aligns with UEFA on such matters.</p> <p>AC Milan are set to provide reimbursements for this match to season ticket holders who cannot travel to Australia, acknowledging the significant inconvenience for loyal Italian supporters.</p> <h2>Venue Details</h2> <p>The venue is confirmed as Optus Stadium in Perth, Western Australia's premier sporting facility.</p> <p>Although it is not one of the <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/soccer/soccer-news/biggest-soccer-stadiums-world">biggest stadiums in the world</a>, the 60,000-seat stadium is regularly used for high-profile Australian football, rugby, cricket, and soccer matches, and most recently staged Australia's 2026 FIFA World Cup AFC Asian Qualifier against Japan in September.</p> <p>The exact kick-off time for Australian audiences will be announced once FIFA's final approval is received, but the match represents a unique opportunity for Australian football fans to witness top-tier European league football on home soil without travelling overseas.</p> <h2>A Precedent or One-Off Event?</h2> <p>UEFA stressed that the decision should not be interpreted as setting a precedent, emphasising that these are extraordinary circumstances. However, other leagues including the Premier League and LaLiga are keeping a close eye on the situation and would push to play abroad if given the all clear.</p> <p>This will be the first ever Serie A fixture played abroad, marking a historic moment for Italian football and potentially opening the door for similar arrangements in the future, despite UEFA's insistence otherwise.</p> <p>For Australian football fans, this represents an unmissable opportunity to experience world-class Serie A action at one of the country's finest sporting venues. More details regarding ticketing and exact match timing are expected to be announced following FIFA's final approval in the coming days.</p>