Will a US UCL final ever come to fruition? That is a topic that has started to garner traction over recent months.
Soccer has certainly grown in popularity in the States and expected viewing figures in the US for the 2025 UCL final are expected to reach record highs.
Not only that, the USMNT are currently 16th in FIFA’s world rankings and the MLS has some of the world’s best players plying their trade Stateside.
Of course, the likes of NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL will always remain people’s favored sports. However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see soccer one day break the monopoly.
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Is A US UCL Final Likely To Happen?
In February of this year, UEFA and the European Club Association entered into a an exclusive negotiation period with Relevent Sports. That was according to UK-based online newspaper The Independent.
The basis of the talks was for the global commercial rights to all of Europe’s men’s club competitions from 2027-2033. Currently, negotiations are still underway but there has been no indication when they’ll conclude.
With many of Europe’s elite teams often playing pre-season tournaments in the US, plus with FIFA’s new-look Club World Cup being held stateside, a US UCL final can’t be ruled out. In fact, it feels like it’s a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if.’
Who Are Relevant Sports?
The Relevant Sports Group (RSG) is a global sports and media rights organization based in America. They primarily focus on soccer in North America and Asia. RSG works with a number of leagues and governing bodies selling media and licensing rights as well as sponsorships.
Billionaire Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross controls RSG and is reportedly keen to bring the UCL final to the US. In fact, Ross wants to bring a number of big European soccer games stateside.
Those who follow the International Champions Cup will know that the pre-season tournament is held as a way of showcasing the United States’ability to host some of Europe’s finest. For example, the ICC held the El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It was only the second time in 100 years the match was held outside Spain.
Possible US UCL Final Venues
The potential US UCL final venues include the likes of the Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas), the AT&T Stadium (Arlington), the Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte) and the Beaver Stadium (State College).
However, the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena is a likely venue. In 1994, it was the stage for the FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Italy. It has a capacity of just over 94,000.
Another strong contender is the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The home of the New York Giants and New York Jets will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Will European Club Games Be Played In The US?
That is a question that typically won’t go away. Talk has been rife amongst Europe’s finest soccer clubs for the last two decades about whether club games will be hosted in the US.
Germany’s Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, France’s Lyon and England’s Chelsea all regularly play pre-season fixtures in America. However, diehard fans have often been strongly against moving club games to the US.
Only time will tell if it ever does come to fruition but if UEFA and Relevant can strike a deal for a US UCL final, it would only be natural for league games to follow suit.
