Champions League final could be held in United States – as Uefa eye groundbreaking new deal
The American agency have been at the forefront of trying to bring major games to the US.
Should the deal be completed, it would mark the end of Uefa's three-decade-plus association with TEAM Marketing, who were originally responsible for all of the prominent Champions League branding, like the starball and famous theme.
More seriously, it could put up to 170 jobs from the company at risk. There is understood to have been a state of shock at TEAM, as well as some anger about the process.
A statement to be released on Tuesday read: "The Board of UC3, the joint venture between Uefa and the European Club Association (ECA) has agreed to enter into an exclusive period of negotiation with Relevent Sports over the global commercial rights to the Uefa men's club competitions for the period 2027-2033.
'The decision follows an open tender process, launched last summer, which attracted bids from a number of global and regional agencies."
Relevent are controlled by billionaire and Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, who has long harboured plans to stage meaningful European club games in the United States.
The pre-season International Champions Cup is widely seen to have been ultimately set up for this purpose.
There were even plans to replace it with a Champions League-branded pre-season tournament and a final in the US has always been seen as the primary objective.
Fifa only last April said that it would consider changes to its policy that blocks league matches from being played in other countries, after an agreement with Relevent to dismiss the promoter's lawsuit challenging that very regulation.
Relevent Sports' lawyer Jeffrey L Kessler had filed a letter in a Manhattan court stating that Fifa and his client agreed to the dismissal.
There had previously been plans to bring a La Liga game between Barcelona and Girona to Miami.
Relevent are now on the brink of striking a deal with Uefa, which could bring the prospect of Champions League games in the US by 2033.
The move marks the start of a huge shift within sport. For one, it is a sign of how the major clubs - through the ECA - are starting to exert much more influence of Uefa competitions and "push new boundaries".
The entry of US and Gulf investors into the European football market has meanwhile sparked a sudden and quick evolution, as major competition organisers start to look to maximise global opportunities.
This is how the face of the game could change, especially as the dynamics and culture of the sport change. Competition to attract the next generation of global "consumers" has become huge.
Football now sees itself as not just competing with other sports but against TikTok and other forms of entertainment, with a need to be aggressive in the market.
Sources close to the situation also insist Uefa has a responsibility to not just ignore the European Super League, and have to show clubs they are "dynamic" and "optimising market opportunities".
It is seen as a big reason why Uefa are pushing ahead with the joint UC3 venture, since it strengthens the links and offers more input in the commercial side.
The agreement would consequently mark the end of an era in European football in numerous senses.
There was said to be particular shock within TEAM that the news came out in a European-club matchweek, some of their employees travelling to matches today to meet with broadcaster and sponsors.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
39 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Brendan Rodgers says Nicolas Kuhn move ‘great business' for Celtic
The 25-year-old German joined from Rapid Vienna for a fee of £3million 18 months ago and after a difficult start, he went on to establish himself as a key player for the Hoops last season. However, Celtic have opted to cash in on one of their prized assets and are set to rake in a fee in the region of £17m once the deal is finalised in the coming days. 'We've virtually agreed between the club and Como so it looks at this point that he'll be on his way, but we just have to wait for confirmation,' said Rodgers, speaking to the media at Lesser Hampden on Friday night after Celtic defeated Championship side Queen's Park 1-0 in a friendly. Kuhn scored 24 goals in 69 appearances for the club, starred in their run to the knockout phase of the Champions League and was nominated for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year in his only full campaign at the club. 'I think it's very clear, the model of Celtic,' Rodgers continued. 'He's come in and in the 18 months he's done absolutely fantastic for us. He was aware of interest towards the end of last season and that sort of followed through. 'Other teams have joined in that interest over the summer and that's why a lot of the young players come. It's a wonderful, brilliant club to come to develop and improve. And you can see within a short period of time, 18 months, he's now getting the move that he wants. 'He's done brilliant for us in the 18 months and if he does end up going and signing for Como then it's great business all round.' Rodgers also confirmed that Polish defender Maik Nawrocki is heading for German second-tier side Hannover on a season-long loan. The 24-year-old has been hindered by injury, managing just 18 appearances for the Hoops over the course of his two seasons after joining from Legia Warsaw in 2023. 'Maik's never really consistently been able to stay fit and really take that spot,' said the manager. 'This time last year, he started a game for us (at Ayr) and then he got injured and was out for a number of weeks. 'So, he's had a couple of years where he hasn't quite got the games that he would have liked. So it's important that he goes out and plays.' Rodgers welcomed his fifth signing of the summer on Friday when 23-year-old Japanese defender Hayato Inamura joined on a four-year deal from J-League side Albirex Niigata. However, the manager explained that his latest recruit will be bedded in gently to life at Celtic. Asked if he would be ready to go straight into the first team, Rodgers said: 'No, he won't be. 'He's a part of the investment of the club. We'll assess and see where he's at as a young player and then it's whether he stays with the squad or whether he has to go out on loan.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Chelsea face doubts over registering signings with Uefa after £27m fine
Chelsea, Aston Villa and Barcelona have been fined by Uefa for breaking financial rules. Chelsea have been hit with a €31m (£27m) fine, with a potential further €60m looming over the next four years if they fail to comply with regulations again. They also face doubts over whether they will be able to register new signings in European competitions over the next two seasons. Villa have been fined a total of €11m with a further €15m suspended for the next three years. Barcelona have been fined €15m and are also at risk of further conditional penalties. Chelsea's punishment leaves them under pressure to make sales this summer before their return to the Champions League. Uefa's judgment included the detail that Chelsea would be forbidden from including new players in their squad for Europe next season and in 2026-27 unless they can show they have generated a cost saving with sale of players against acquisitions. Chelsea have bought Liam Delap for £30m and João Pedro in a deal worth up to £60m. They have agreed a deal to sign the Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens and will add Palmeiras's Estêvão Willian to their squad after the Club World Cup. Chelsea were already looking to make sales and are open to offers for Noni Madueke and Christopher Nkunku. A number of others, including João Félix and Raheem Sterling, have no future at the club. Sterling has two years left on a contract worth £325,000 a week. Chelsea and Villa breached Uefa's football earnings and squad-cost rules (SCR), the latter of which limits clubs operating in European competition to spending 80% of their revenue on player costs. Villa face being fined €5m for every year they breach financial rules. A new three-year cycle started in 2024-25. Villa are confident they can absorb the fine and strengthen Unai Emery's squad while agreeing to move in line with SCR. Villa and Uefa are understood to have agreed a 'glide path' to meet their targets. Villa, who are also confident of avoiding a possible points deduction from the Premier League after moving to sell their women's team to comply with financial rules, are adamant they do not need to sell key players. The future of Emiliano Martínez, however, is uncertain, and while Aston Villa are yet to receive a bid for the Argentina goalkeeper, they are braced for further interest in the 32-year-old, who is under contract until 2029., Chelsea, Manchester United and Atlético Madrid, are thought to hold an interest in the World Cup-winner. Reducing the wage bill is a priority for Villa. YesterdayOn Friday, the club confirmed they have terminated the contract of Philippe Coutinho, who has signed permanently for Vasco de Gama, his boyhood club. Villa want to trim the squad and offload fringe players, with Kaine Kesler-Hayden joining Coventry in a £3.5m deal and Emiliano Buendia, Louie Barry and Alex Moreno also poised to leave. Lyon (€12.5m), Besiktas (€900,000) Panathinaikos (€400,000) and Hajduk Split (€300,000) have also been sanctioned by Uefa.
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Brendan Rodgers says Nicolas Kuhn move ‘great business' for Celtic
The 25-year-old German joined from Rapid Vienna for a fee of £3million 18 months ago and after a difficult start, he went on to establish himself as a key player for the Hoops last season. However, Celtic have opted to cash in on one of their prized assets and are set to rake in a fee in the region of £17m once the deal is finalised in the coming days. 'We've virtually agreed between the club and Como so it looks at this point that he'll be on his way, but we just have to wait for confirmation,' said Rodgers, speaking to the media at Lesser Hampden on Friday night after Celtic defeated Championship side Queen's Park 1-0 in a friendly. Kuhn scored 24 goals in 69 appearances for the club, starred in their run to the knockout phase of the Champions League and was nominated for the PFA Scotland Premiership Player of the Year in his only full campaign at the club. 'I think it's very clear, the model of Celtic,' Rodgers continued. 'He's come in and in the 18 months he's done absolutely fantastic for us. He was aware of interest towards the end of last season and that sort of followed through. 'Other teams have joined in that interest over the summer and that's why a lot of the young players come. It's a wonderful, brilliant club to come to develop and improve. And you can see within a short period of time, 18 months, he's now getting the move that he wants. 'He's done brilliant for us in the 18 months and if he does end up going and signing for Como then it's great business all round.' Rodgers also confirmed that Polish defender Maik Nawrocki is heading for German second-tier side Hannover on a season-long loan. The 24-year-old has been hindered by injury, managing just 18 appearances for the Hoops over the course of his two seasons after joining from Legia Warsaw in 2023. 'Maik's never really consistently been able to stay fit and really take that spot,' said the manager. 'This time last year, he started a game for us (at Ayr) and then he got injured and was out for a number of weeks. 'So, he's had a couple of years where he hasn't quite got the games that he would have liked. So it's important that he goes out and plays.' Rodgers welcomed his fifth signing of the summer on Friday when 23-year-old Japanese defender Hayato Inamura joined on a four-year deal from J-League side Albirex Niigata. However, the manager explained that his latest recruit will be bedded in gently to life at Celtic. Asked if he would be ready to go straight into the first team, Rodgers said: 'No, he won't be. 'He's a part of the investment of the club. We'll assess and see where he's at as a young player and then it's whether he stays with the squad or whether he has to go out on loan.'
