Kuwait staging of Trophée des Champions boosts LFP finances as ultras stay away | OneFootball

PSG v OM will contest the Trophée des Champions in Kuwait for the first time, delivering 3.5 million euros to the LFP and a showcase for French football, yet the absence of ultras from both clubs has put the expected crowd under scrutiny.

According to L'Équipe, Kuwait beat Oman and Ivory Coast to host Thursday’s 2025-2026 match, 19:00 in France, 21:00 local. The Kuwait FA organised the bid via Matchworld and Thierry Benaïm’s TB Consulting to LFP Media. The LFP board approved it unanimously on 26 September, with Nasser al-Khelaïfi and Pablo Longoria involved.

The package covered team travel, local transport and 75 rooms in a five-star hotel.

Marseille arrived on Monday evening, PSG on Tuesday night. Roberto De Zerbi has argued such super cups should be staged domestically in front of club supporters, citing a near six-hour midweek flight and a sharp temperature shift.

The game will air in 154 territories via 48 broadcasters, including beIN Sports, DAZN, ESPN and FOX.

Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium holds 58,000, with ticketing run by the Kuwait FA. As of Tuesday the LFP did not know the exact attendance but said sales were progressing. Seven Marseille groups will boycott on ideological grounds despite club help, and PSG cancelled an 800-euro trip due to low uptake after last summer’s 500-euro New York offer for the Club World Cup semi-final and final.

Overseas editions mainly draw local crowds, with regional fan clubs sometimes travelling, and attendances are usually solid except 2016 Klagenfurt’s 10,000.

Source: L'Équipe