French Champions Trophy soccer season-opener to be held in Tel Aviv

Match between league and cup winners has traditionally been held outside France since 2009; deal signed with firm that brought 2018 Giro d'Italia to Jerusalem

By AP 12 March 2021, 9:00 am
People enjoy artist Ivri Lieder at a concert organized by the Tel Aviv municipality at Bloomfield Stadium, March 5, 2021 (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

PARIS — The French Champions Trophy soccer match between the Ligue 1 champion and the French Cup holder will be played in Tel Aviv on August 1.

Bloomfield Stadium will stage the season-opening match after a deal with Israeli event organizer Comtec Group, the French soccer league said in a statement on Thursday.

Comtec was behind Barcelona’s visit to the region in 2013, and played a role in organizing the start of the 2018 Giro d’Italia in Jerusalem.

The Champions Trophy was inaugurated in 1995 and moved abroad in 2009 when Bordeaux defeated Guingamp in Montreal. It returned to France this year because the 2020 match was played in January in the northern city of Lens after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Paris Saint-Germain players celebrate with the trophy after the Champions Trophy soccer match against Olympique Marseille at the Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France, January 13, 2021. PSG won 2:1. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Mathieu Ficot, the league deputy general director, said international development was a priority, especially in the Middle East.

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