Search Console rejecting XML sitemap files as HTML files, despite them being XML

[SearchDeploy]

Hi Moz folks,

We have launched an international site that uses subdirectories for regions and have had trouble getting pages outside of USA and Canada indexed.

Google Search Console accounts have finally been verified, so we can submit the correct regional sitemap to the relevant search console account.

However, when submitting non-USA and CA sitemap files (e.g. AU, NZ, UK), we are receiving a submission error that states, "Your Sitemap appears to be an HTML page," despite them being .xml files, e.g. http://www.t2tea.com/en/au/sitemap1_en_AU.xml.

Queries on this suggest it's a W3 Cache plugin problem, but we aren't using Wordpress; the site is running on Demandware.

Can anyone guide us on why Google Search Console is rejecting these sitemap files? Page indexation is a real issue.

Many thanks in advance!

[SearchDeploy]

Extra thought: We're wondering if it's a bigger issue involving the redirect mechanic? Currently, users from a specific country are automatically redirected to their respective locale (e.g. US users trying to access Australian URLs are redirected to /en/us/). Is there something in this where Googlebots aren't able to access AU, NZ and UK subdirectories and sitemap files because they're coming from North America?

[Martijn_Scheijbeler]

Quite sure that's the case. When I'm following the URL the site also redirects me to a normal page. What is likely is that the same thing is happening to the bots of Google.

[MickEdwards]

agree

[SearchDeploy]

Thanks, both. We'll explore a better solution with Demandware.