USA could host Champions League in 2026, says UEFA chief Ceferin

USA could host Champions League games in 2026, says UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin – as he gushes over Americans paying big money ‘for the best and nothing for less’ in sport

Champions League games could be held in the United States as soon as 2026, according to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin – even if it causes outrage for fans in Europe.

It would represent a blockbuster year for soccer in the United States, with the country co-hosting the World Cup that year alongside Canada and Mexico.

Europe’s lucrative elite club team competition already has finals scheduled in Istanbul this year, London in 2024 and Munich in 2025.

Speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast, Ceferin said anything is possible after that and seemed to allude to the final being held in America.

‘It is possible (Champions League could be in the US),’ he said. ‘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,

Champions League games could be heading to the United States as soon as 2026

The move could see stars such as Kylian Mbappe heading Stateside for huge club games 

Ceferin said he is drawn to staging games in the United States due to the financial rewards on offer.

‘Football is extremely popular in United States these days,’ he added. ‘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) commercialization is completely different than in Europe. They [Americans] are much more talented for that than us [Europeans].

‘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.’

As well as co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, the United States will also host the 2024 Copa America, with its national team competing in the tournament to build much-needed experience ahead of the World Cup.

USA and Mexico is also launching a bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup. 

The United States is the defending champion going into this year’s tournament in Australia and New Zealand, which begins in July. 

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