2026 World Cup organisers express desire to host Champions League games

Canada, Mexico and USA will host the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The FIFA World Cup 2026 organisers have urged European football authorities to think about scheduling competitive matches in the United States.

Jersey, New Gov. Phil Murphy, a significant contributor to the group that successfully negotiated the three World Cup games in New York and New Jersey, has expressed a desire to see regular-season Premier League or UEFA Champions League matches held in the United States.

In order to get ready for the upcoming season, some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona, are playing friendlies in the United States.

82,500 people attended the sold-out match between United and Arsenal on Saturday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Murphy, though, thinks that there would be an even greater desire for competitive fixtures.

"I know that the clubs have not been wild about that in Europe but I'd love to think that it would happen," Murphy said at a media briefing before the game.

"You would have Barcelona playing Real Madrid in New Jersey at some point in a regular season or in a Champions League game. I would love that. I would just appeal either to the Champions League, if that's UEFA, and play a game here.

"I can say unequivocally, we would die to have a real competitive game anywhere in America. If it was in New York/New Jersey, you wouldn't get near that game.

"It would be overwhelming. To have a Champions League game, you wouldn't be able to get near it."

Aleksander Ceferin, the president of UEFA, stated in April that he is open to having a conversation about holding important Champions League matches in the USA.

LaLiga's attempts to hold a regular-season game in Miami have, however, been consistently thwarted by the Spain Football Association (RFEF), which also openly opposes any league games held outside of Spain.

The Premier League suggested a "39th game" in 2008, which called for an additional round of intense competitive matches to be held beyond England.

"It is possible [Champions League in U.S.]," Ceferin said at the time. "We started to discuss about that, but then one year it is World Cup, 2024 is Euro, this year is Istanbul, '24 in London, '25 in Munich. And after that let's see. It's possible, it's possible."

"[Lionel] Messi may be single-handedly recalculating the odds for Miami but we think when you add everything up we have got the winning package, but we'll see. We're not taking anything for granted.

"When people think of America, I think New York and Los Angeles are the two communities that rise above everyone else.

"I think the logic tells me you go to one of those two cities and with all due respect to them, we think we play a stronger hand. We think for time zone and stadium size we're bigger. I assume the decision gets made at the highest levels. They love what they see here."

The notion drew harsh condemnation from fans, but Murphy argues that it can succeed thanks to the NFL's decision to hold important games in Europe.