The 2025 Trophée des Champions, between Paris Saint-Germain (2024-2025 French champions and winners of the Coupe de France) and Olympique de Marseille (2nd in Ligue 1), could not be played in the summer (as is traditional, even if it has rarely been followed recently) and was instead rescheduled for January 8th in Kuwait. According to L’Equipe, the country secured its first hosting of this match for a hefty sum.
“According to our information, the Persian Gulf country has put a tidy sum on the table, €3.5 million plus incidentals, to overcome competition from Côte d’Ivoire and Oman and convince the League.”
It’s a tidy sum for a single match, a sign of a certain interest in French football and one of its greatest rivalries. It must be taken advantage of to further develop the championship’s image, and thus its revenues. Even if some like to denigrate Ligue 1, it has some great qualities.
Let’s hope that its players will be able to showcase it. This includes the management, who must put an end to the bickering that has been apparent in recent years in order to focus on the work at hand. The beginnings of the Ligue 1+ channel are interesting, with a pleasant focus on Ligue 1 and finally accessible behind-the-scenes content. We must continue in this direction.
