World Cup 2026 organizers urge soccer chiefs to bring Champions League matches to the USA... despite fury over Premier League '39th game'
Organizers of the 2026 World Cup have called on football chiefs in Europe to bring competitive games to the United States.
Soccer is thriving in North America right now, with Lionel Messi joining Major League Soccer side Inter Miami three years out from the USA, Mexico and Canada hosting the World Cup.
The so-called ’39th’ Premier League game has been discussed before - sparking fury among many supporters - and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin recently hinted that a Champions League final could one day be played in the US.
'I know that the clubs have not been wild about that in Europe but I’d love to think that it would happen,' said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a key figure in securing World Cup games in New York and New Jersey.
'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.'
Murphy was speaking shortly before MetLife Stadium recorded its highest ever attendance for a club football match.
There were 82,262 in attendance for Manchester United’s 2-0 friendly win over Arsenal at a stadium that Murphy believes should host the 2026 World Cup final.
'We’re fighting like heck to get the final,' Murphy said. 'I think LA and Dallas’ names come up from time to time. I think Miami comes up.
'Messi may be single-handedly recalculating the odds for Miami but we think when you add everything up we have
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