Champions League games could be hosted in the United States of America by 2026 according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast, Ceferin said that anything is possible from 2025 onwards and even hinted towards the prospect of games being held in America.
“It is possible (Champions League could be in the US). We started to discuss about that, but then one year it is the World Cup, 2024 is Euro, this year is Istanbul, ’24 in London, ’25 in Munich. And after that let’s see. It’s possible, it’s possible.”
The 55-year-old admitted that the financial gain from playing overseas could be too much to turn down and the Champions League could take centre stage alongside the NBA and NFL.
“Football is extremely popular in United States these days. Americans are willing to pay this amount (gestures high with hand) for the best and nothing for the less. So they will follow European football as basketball lovers in Europe follow NBA.
“It’s a very important, promising market for the future. The thing is that we are selling rights very well. Sponsorship is so-so for now from the U.S., but here (in US) commercialisation is completely different than in Europe. They [Americans] are much more talented for that than us [Europeans].
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UEFA President Čeferin: “Champions League games being played in USA? It's possible. We started to discuss about that”, told @MenInBlazers. 🏆🇺🇸
“In 2025, the final is in Munich… after that, let's see”. pic.twitter.com/7T00qLik9e
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) April 25, 2023
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“Fans will still think in a way, these b****ds in Switzerland, it’s all about money, and I repeat thousand times, we redistribute 97% of the money. Of course our revenues are huge. I would love them to be much, much bigger than now.
“What shocked me actually is that our Euro (2020) finals, Europe national team finals, was watched by more people in United States than NBA Finals. What shocked me is that 30 matches of the Euros, every match viewership was a Super Bowl viewership. So I think we are doing well.”
This year, the final is in Istanbul, Turkey at the Atatruk Olympic Stadium. In 2024, Wembley Stadium will once again host in London, England and the final confirmed venue on the calendar is Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany in 2025.
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