Lhe phenomenon is not new, but it is growing more and more: matches between European teams will be played in the four corners of the planet. Football, with its reputation as the number one sport in the world, knows no boundaries, and everyone wants to enjoy it. But the export of matches, in addition to being an ecological aberration, represents concrete dangers: the uprooting of certain championships and local supporters relegated to the background.
In recent days, the leaders of clubs, federations and international organizations have given their agreement for strange relocations: La Liga has said yes to the Villarreal-Barcelona poster which will take place in Miami at the end of December, the Champions Trophy between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille will be played next January in Kuwait and Serie A will be exported to Australia with the match AC Milan-Como in February 2026.
Imagine, you’re a Villarreal supporter, a season ticket holder at the stadium, and the match against Barça is stolen from you… Zero respect for the fans, zero respect for history, zero respect for football. On the other hand, business is well respected.����
To throw up.�� https://t.co/71oyASdGJz
— Arnaud (@janeyss87) October 6, 2025
“It’s crazy to do so many kilometers”
No one is fooled: beyond the marketing objective of establishing ourselves in new territories, generating significant revenue is obviously a priority. La Liga, the LFP and Serie A are targeting several million euros through these show matches thousands of kilometers away. Supporters who have taken out subscriptions will not be able to see these matches, while the players, in an already busy schedule, are forced to make yet another distant journey that is not necessarily necessary.
For many years now, the Champions Trophy has become accustomed to exporting and taking French football on the road. China, Canada, Gabon, Qatar and even Israel: this poster traditionally pitting the winner of Ligue 1 against the winner of the Coupe de France is a showcase to expose French football wherever it can be. But it’s almost regrettable not to use the many stadiums in France to allow the whole country to benefit from the crème de la crème of national football. The confines of the Girondins de Bordeaux, relegated to the fourth division, would have been a great theater for this PSG-OM. And, even if it means traveling the world, why not consider this poster in overseas territories? The capacities of the stadiums on site are certainly less, but the wink would be strong as they have also contributed to French football.
Adrien Rabiot, AC Milan player and therefore future long-haul traveler, did not fail to criticize these relocated matches. “All of this is beyond us. The subject of calendars, player health, is discussed a lot, and it all seems crazy. It’s crazy to travel so many kilometers to play a match between two Italian teams in Australia. We have to adapt. As always,” lamented the French international in an interview with Figaro.
Exhausted players, robbed supporters
This declaration ignited the powder in Italy, and above all showed that, as is often the case, there are several voices. “Rabiot forgets, like all footballers who earn millions of euros, that they are paid to carry out an activity, that is to say to play football,” tackled Luigi De Siervo, general director of the Italian Football League. He should respect the money he earns and be more in agreement with what his employer wants, that is to say AC Milan, who accepted and pushed for this match to be played abroad. »
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Answer
Dissident voices among players are rare and the slightest criticism of this football model close to overdose is not taken seriously, the fault of their working conditions and their very advantageous salaries. But it’s not just Rabiot and his teammates in the equation: supporters and subscribers are deprived of a match for the benefit of Americans and Australians who don’t often have a strong connection with these teams. Some even believe that these unusual meetings could distort the championships. And it’s not just official meetings that are affected; last week, we were treated to a friendly organized between Atlético and Inter Milan… in Libya!
By accepting these relocations very easily, UEFA is opening the door to more and more abuses and a progressive distancing of European football from its base. Whether Super Cup matches are concerned, why not, ultimately, but championship matches are another story. It does not seem impossible to see a Champions League final taking place on the other side of the Atlantic within a few years. And those who complain about it will be singled out as killjoys.
