A new twist in the future of Europe's premier club soccer competition is that it could soon be played outside Europe.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has left the door open for Champions League matches to be played in the United States, including the final.
It should be remembered that this year's final of the top continental competition will be played in Istanbul, in 2024 in London and in 2025 in Munich. No venue has yet been chosen for the 2026 edition.
Ceferin has given an interview to 'Men in Blazers' and discussed the future of the competition. He sees the North American market as one that UEFA can do more to exploit.
"It is possible. We started to discuss about that, but then one year it is World Cup, 2024 is Euro," said Ceferin.
"This year [the final] is Istanbul, '24 in London, '25 in Munich. And after that let's see. It's possible, it's possible."
What is certain is that this opens a window to a situation that seemed impossible.
There was even talk a year ago of creating a new competition, in the form of a new Super Cup between four teams to be played in the United States, but the possibility of playing a Champions League match or even the final on American soil has never been so close.
Big in the USA
The audiences in the US are encouraging and show soccer's popularity, hence Ceferin's interest.
"Americans are willing to pay this amount [gestures] for the best and nothing for the less. So they will follow European football as basketball lovers in Europe follow NBA," said Ceferin.
"It's a very important promising market for the future. The thing is that we are selling rights very well.
"Sponsorship is so-so for now from the US, but here commercialisation is completely different than in Europe. They are much more talented for that than us.
"What shocked me actually is that our Euro [2020] finals, Europe national team finals, was watched by more people in United States than NBA Finals.
"What shocked me is that 30 matches of the Euros, every match viewership was a Super Bowl viewership. So I think we are doing well."