The UEFA Champions League could be held in the United States as soon as 2026 due to the growing popularity of the sport in the country, according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
A possible decision could see 2026 become a significant year for the United States with the nation co-hosting the World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico. 11 stadiums stateside have been announced to host the next edition of the tournament.
The Champions League has never ventured outside of Europe for obvious reasons. The competition includes only the top clubs in the continent, but Ceferin was recently questioned on the possibility of the flagship event spreading its wings to the USA.
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This year's final takes place in June before Wembley will host the final for the third time in 13 years next year. Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena will then host the most prized game in European football, with UEFA yet to confirm the host cities post-2025, leaving the door open for a possible change in circumstances.
Speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast, Ceferin said: "It is possible [that the USA could host the competition]. We started to discuss about that, but then one year it is World Cup, 2024 is Euro. This year [the final] is Istanbul, ’24 in London, ’25 in Munich. And after that let’s see. It’s possible, it’s possible.”
"Football is extremely popular in United States these days. Americans are willing to pay this amount [gestures] 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 US, but here commercialisation is completely different than in Europe. They are much more talented for that than us."
Ceferin's comments on the view of football in the USA were backed up with serious evidence, with the Ukrainian referencing the incredible viewing figures in the States. "What shocked me actually is that our Euro [2020] finals, Europe national team finals, were watched by more people in the 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.”
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