He slots home the winner. The crowd erupts. Drinks fly through the air, scarves go up with pride and supporters tumble three rows down from their seats in celebration. It is pure theatre, tribalism and community combined into one. It is football. However, this isn’t happening down the road from the training ground – in fact, it isn’t even taking place on the same continent. 

Welcome to the future of AC Milan vs Inter Milan. The banner says “Milan”, but shadows from palm trees say otherwise. The question once asked of European stars was: “Yeah, but can he do it on a cold, wet night in Stoke?” Now it’s: “Can he do it during a 3pm kickoff in 32-degree heat on a branded pitch in Miami?”

While the vision might seem like a nightmare to traditionalists or a dream to commercial partners, it could soon become a reality. Last week, Serie A president Ezio Maria Simonelli expressed the desire to send Milan’s biggest clubs stateside while San Siro gets an upgrade.

“San Siro will be closed from January 10 to February 8, so that could be the opportunity to make Inter and Milan play abroad,” Simonelli told Panorama magazine.

“The US would be a good option. There are of course some formal matters to go through, like asking UEFA for authorisation, but I would like to do it.”

It’s not hard to see  Simonelli’s perspective., With San Siro set to close, relocating makes logistical sense, and the commercial opportunities are even more compelling. AC and Inter Milan are two of the biggest brands in football, followed from all four corners of the world by people who may never have set foot in Italy. 

The allure of foreign fixtures

Playing games abroad isn’t a new concept either. Many club owners and stakeholders have long emphasised the potential benefits. 

Clubs could expect significantly higher matchday revenues by playing in larger stadiums abroad, often double or triple the size of their home grounds. These games become premium events, one-offs rather than routine fixtures, allowing for dynamic ticket pricing, exclusive hospitality packages and sellouts even at inflated prices. 

Beyond the gate, sponsorship revenue grows as clubs tap into new regional partners eager to collaborate with a global moment rather than a domestic campaign. In emerging football markets like the US or Asia, brands are far more likely to invest when the product is localised. 

Then there are media rights, which represent the biggest prize of all. While traditional league agreements may currently cap upside, a shift toward club-controlled rights (as seen in other sports or proposed Super League models) could unlock exponential value for global marquee fixtures.

Resistance from the government 

As Serie A’s President stated interest in playing domestic games abroad, reports emerged from the UK suggesting the government’s intention to block such plans altogether.

This news coincides with ongoing efforts to amend the UK’s Football Governance Bill, a piece of legislation designed to place checks on the commercialisation of the game and preserve the domestic nature of English football.

The UK government’s resistance to the idea of playing league matches abroad reflects the views of the majority of supporters in the country, who see the concept as an attack on what football represents: a local, community-based sport.

At its core, this resistance stems from the fear that as football becomes more commercialised and globalised, it loses its authenticity. This sentiment has been proven true in recent seasons, with rising ticket prices and dwindling atmospheres at matches.

There’s also the concern one-off matches abroad could eventually lead to more drastic changes. While it may seem a significant leap, it isn’t unreasonable to believe it could eventually pave the way for a Super League model – the issue the Football Governance Bill was created to address.

Momentum is building 

Despite the UK’s strong stance, it may be too little, too late. European clubs are increasingly placing emphasis on expanding their global presence as they race to tap into new markets. A prime example of this is Aston Villa’s partnership with Kaizen Gaming-owned betting brand Betano, announced last year.

At a press conference celebrating the deal, Chris Heck, President of Business Operations at Aston Villa, outlined the club’s vision for growth. Heck highlighted how partnerships like this one are part of the strategy to widen Villa’s reach globally.

“They’re [Betano] a sponsor that understands football, understands Europe, understands South America. These are incredibly important targets for us as we grow. When we found out that they were coming to the UK, we thought that this was great for them and great for us,” Heck said.

“So Europe and South America are key priority markets, and then we will enter into Asia as well. So this is our target right now and that’s the beauty of this relationship because they are forging the path for us.”

This highlights the growing strategy of clubs, with partnerships representing doorways into new markets and a way to connect and engage with millions of potential new supporters. While this is an effective method, matches played in these regions would undoubtedly have a greater impact. 

This reality isn’t lost on club executives. Pre-season friendlies have become a staple of match calendars, with the number and geographical spread increasing each year.

Take Manchester United as an example, one of the biggest brands in the world. United has announced its preseason matches will span three continents, with players departing for Kuala Lumpur immediately following the final Premier League game of the season. 

United has already unveiled numerous partnerships ahead of the tour, including with Malaysian Airlines

Commenting on the significance of these matches, Omar Berrada, CEO of Manchester United, said: “Importantly, Tour fixtures drive significant additional revenue which help make the club stronger, allowing us to keep investing in success on the pitch. 

“They also create unique opportunities for us to collaborate with our valued commercial partners, and to deepen relationships with our fans in regions such as Asia and the US.”

Is it inevitable?

The future of football is inexorably headed toward a global stage. From Serie A’s desire to take Milan derbies to the US, to Manchester United traversing three continents for pre-season, the beautiful game is no longer confined by borders or tradition. 

The financial rewards of tapping into new markets are undeniable, with bigger stadiums, premium ticket prices, lucrative sponsorships and massive media rights deals all representing irresistible opportunities for clubs seeking growth and competitive advantage. 

Yet with any evolution, something valuable risks being lost. The deeper football ventures into commercialisation and globalisation, the more it risks severing the authentic connection to local communities that has sustained it for generations. 

The question is no longer whether global expansion will happen; it is already underway. The real question is whether football can balance its commercial future with its cultural soul. Can the gam preserve the electric atmosphere of local derbies while simultaneously embracing new global audiences?  Or will the roar of the crowd in Milan one day become just another echo of football’s past, replaced by the air-conditioned hum of luxury boxes in Miami? 

For better or for worse, the answer may soon reveal itself under the palm trees, some 4,000 miles from San Siro.  

Previous articleWhy deals like CAA’s purchase of Portas are now the norm
Next articleYouTube scores NFL’s São Paulo exclusive in streaming first