The French football season’s traditional curtain-raiser, the Champions Trophy, will be held at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.
The venue, which was one of the standout arenas during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, stepped in after the planned Beijing event was canceled by Chinese authorities.
Initially scheduled for August 8 in Beijing to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between France and China, the game faced last-minute cancellation, echoing a similar situation last year when Thailand backed out as hosts.
While last season’s event was eventually played in Paris, with Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) defeating Toulouse, this year’s fixture found an alternative in Qatar, edging out other contenders such as the Ivory Coast.
The French Professional League (LFP), struggling financially due to a significant reduction in domestic television rights deals, found Qatar’s offer too compelling to decline.
“Several offers were made, and the Doha solution was the best for the date, both for the LFP and for the two participating teams,” the league confirmed in a statement to AFP.
Qatar’s involvement in French football is not new. The nation’s sports investment arm, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), acquired PSG in 2011, transforming the club into a footballing powerhouse.
Under QSI, PSG has dominated French football, winning 10 Ligue 1 titles in the past 12 seasons. A victory in the Champions Trophy would mark their 11th title in 12 years.
PSG’s coach, Luis Enrique, acknowledged Qatar’s connection during a press conference held aboard a Qatar Airways flight to Doha. “This is like a home game for us,” he remarked, underscoring PSG’s close ties to the Gulf nation.
Monaco Poised for Upset
The Champions Trophy traditionally features the Ligue 1 champions against the French Cup winners. However, with PSG claiming both titles last season, Ligue 1 runners-up AS Monaco will take their place.
Despite PSG’s dominant form, Monaco aims to lift its first silverware since their stunning Ligue 1 title win in 2017.
Monaco faces a challenging task. PSG recently defeated them 4-2 in Ligue 1 before the mid-season break, a result that sets the Parisians as clear favorites.
However, Monaco’s players have expressed determination to break PSG’s stranglehold on French football.
Fans Divided Over Qatar Venue
The choice of Qatar as the host has elicited mixed reactions. For French football authorities, the decision represents a financial lifeline, while for fans, it has been a source of contention.
PSG offered fans a package deal, including return flights, hotel accommodations, and match tickets for just €100 ($103). However, the club’s ultra supporters rejected the offer, opting not to travel for the match.
While Qatar’s hosting of the Champions Trophy highlights the Gulf state’s deepening ties with European football, it also underscores the growing trend of staging marquee games in international venues to boost revenue.
As PSG and Monaco prepare to clash in Doha, the match serves as a reminder of the sport’s evolving global footprint and the financial pressures shaping the modern game.
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