BRUSSELS — Amid rising speculation that the UEFA Champions League final could be staged outside Europe, EU Sport Commissioner Glenn Micallef has made it clear: the competition must remain on European soil.
“These are European competitions, and European competitions should be played in Europe,” Micallef stated firmly, pushing back against commercial pressures to globalize UEFA’s flagship tournament.
According to Euractiv, talks of holding the final in the United States gained momentum after UEFA entered exclusive negotiations with Relevent Sports, a New York-based agency known for organizing the International Champions Cup. The deal, set to begin in 2027, covers global commercial rights and has fueled speculation that major European matches may be moved overseas.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin previously acknowledged the growing U.S. market for soccer and admitted the idea had been discussed. However, he later clarified that only European federations can currently bid to host the final, and there are no formal plans to alter that policy.
Fan organizations have also pushed back. The Football Supporters’ Association compared the proposal to the Premier League’s abandoned “Game 39” plan, warning that loyal, matchgoing supporters would be alienated by such a move.
The next Champions League final is set for May 31, 2025, at Allianz Arena in Munich, where Paris Saint-Germain will face Inter Milan.
As UEFA seeks new commercial opportunities, the debate underscores a broader tension between expanding football’s global footprint and preserving its deeply rooted European traditions.
