The American advertising and television market is more influential than any other in the world today, which is why major football competitions around the world are jostling for their share of the American pie. More and more finals and elite tournaments are played in the United States.
UEFA and ECA in favor of the American Champions League final
However, the United States have yet to win the biggest club game on the planet: the UEFA Champions League final. Europe’s footballing showpiece has never left the Old Continent – and the process of taking it anywhere else in the world would be far from simple. The financial incentives are such, however, that European clubs and UEFA, the continent’s governing body, are open to the possibility. The European Club Association, which is holding its general assembly in Istanbul next week, is in favor of expanding its market – a move that would multiply TV and sponsorship revenue.
As for broadcast revenue, UEFA has just sold its rights to the American Champions League in English to CBS, Viacom and Paramount for $1.5 billion, under a six-year deal starting in 2024. It’s a contract the organization is very happy with, and one that has been boosted by the expansion of the tournament format from the 2024/25 season. The strong presence that UEFA Business PartnerRelevant group, established itself in the US market offers the European body a solid platform on which to make lucrative deals. Relevent was responsible for organizing the International Champions Cup, a summer tournament held in the United States a few years ago.
US confidence in Champions League final prospects
Major US promoters are optimistic about holding a Champions League final on US soil. They believe they are ready to organize the event. The Campeones Cup, a match organized by the American elite soccer league, Major League Soccer, is proof of this. Held every year since 2018, the match pits the MLS champions against Mexico’s Liga MX winners, and its latest edition, played at New York’s Yankee Stadium in front of 15,000 fans on Wednesday, was a huge success. Organizationally, the event resembled a grand European final. In addition to their sporting expertise, Americans have mastered the art of putting on a show.
World Cup host USA could also get Club World Cup
FIFA, the organization responsible for governing football around the world, is well aware of this. The 2026 World Cup will be held in the United States – although the country will have to share hosting rights with Canada and Mexico – and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, the main attraction of which is the involvement of Champions League holders Real Madrid, could also play out in America. In recent years, other international tournaments have also been held in the United States, such as the Copa América of South America and the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The rise of football in the United States was boosted not only by the country’s large Latin American population, but also by a series of measures imposed by organizers and institutions. Building more top football stadiums is the latest campaign goal, leaving 22 of MLS’s 28 clubs with football-specific stadiums that are not, as has often been the case, reallocated to others. sports. Most notably, Manchester City branch New York City FC had to share Yankee Stadium with MLB giants New York Yankees. The United States has everything but one thing: the Champions League. That’s his goal.