French football’s annual curtain-raiser is heading to the Gulf. The 31st edition of the Trophée des Champions will be staged in Kuwait City on Thursday, January 8, 2026, marking the first time the event has ever been played in the country.
The showcase clash will feature Paris Saint-Germain — Ligue 1 champions and Coupe de France winners — against arch-rivals Olympique de Marseille, the 2025 Ligue 1 runners-up. It will be the third time France’s two biggest clubs have met in this competition, following previous editions in 2010 and 2020.
A First for Kuwait
The match will be played at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, a 58,000-seat venue reopened in 2015 and now a regular home for the Kuwaiti national team.
Kuwait has proven itself capable of hosting major regional events, including the Gulf Cup of Nations in 2017 and 2024. But this will be its first opportunity to stage a European club fixture of this scale — one that brings together global stars and one of football’s fiercest rivalries.
The event is being organized in collaboration with the Kuwait Football Association, underlining the growing role of Gulf nations in hosting marquee football competitions.
The Globalization of the Trophée des Champions
Traditionally played in France, the Trophée des Champions has increasingly been used as a vehicle for Ligue 1 to expand internationally. In past years, the match has been held in locations such as Montreal, Tel Aviv, Tangier, and Beijing.
For the French Professional League (LFP), Kuwait provides:
- Strategic expansion into the Gulf, a region with strong football culture and investment appetite.
- Commercial leverage, showcasing Ligue 1 McDonald’s branding and French football’s top clubs to a wider audience.
- Broadcast reach, with the game set to air on Ligue 1+ in France and international rights packages driving visibility abroad.
Why PSG vs. Marseille Matters?
Few fixtures in French football carry the weight of Le Classique. PSG vs. Marseille is more than a football match — it is a cultural rivalry that defines modern French football.
Staging this clash in Kuwait gives the Trophée des Champions an edge it rarely enjoys: a fixture with global resonance, featuring clubs that attract audiences far beyond France.
Final Word
On January 8, 2026, French football will once again export its season-opener, this time to Kuwait. For the LFP, the move underscores a broader trend: European leagues are using super cup-style competitions to tap into international markets, engage new fans, and strengthen commercial ties.
For Kuwait, hosting PSG and Marseille at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium is more than an exhibition — it is a statement of its growing presence on the global football stage.
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