Serie A chief suggests moving Inter and Milan games to USA in 2026 | OneFootball

Lega Serie A President Ezio Maria Simonelli has proposed moving Inter and Milan matches to be played in the USA next season while San Siro undergoes restructuring work. ‘We need to ask UEFA for authorisation.’

It is not new for some major European Leagues to suggest playing a few matches of the regular season on American soil as a way of raising money and spreading interest in the product abroad, especially in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup to be staged in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

The Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A have all commented on the possibility before, but Lega chief Simonelli believes he can actually get it done for a very specific period.

Inter and Milan could play Serie A games in America

MILAN, ITALY – APRIL 23: Tijjani Reijnders of AC Milan runs with the ball under pressure from Mehdi Taremi of FC Internazionale during the coppa Italia Semi Final match between FC Internazionale and AC Milan at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on April 23, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

“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 United States 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.”

The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in the San Siro area of Milan will be undergoing reconstruction work in January and February 2026 so that it can be ready for the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics, staged in Milan and Cortina.

San Siro at centre of new projects

MILAN, ITALY – NOVEMBER 23: General view outside the stadium prior to the Serie A match between AC Milan and Juventus at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

This is entirely separate of course from the work that Inter and Milan are pushing for with regards to the stadium, which they want knocked down entirely to make way for a brand new structure built effectively in its current car park.

That project was publicly backed by UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin, who was in attendance for the Champions League semi-final between Inter and Barcelona this week, insisting he’d prefer a ‘more modern’ arena.

“I agree with what Ceferin said about Italian stadiums and was ashamed,” added Simonelli.

“Red tape and a lack of vision from politicians has meant only five stadiums were built in Italy during a period where 213 were constructed around Europe. I have faith for the new San Siro, as the local authorities have committed themselves to it.

“It is indispensable that Inter and Milan have a suitable home to play in, like the Bernabeu or other stadiums that are currently a world away from our structures.”