Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is poised to lift its first silverware of the season when they face Monaco in the French Champions Trophy on Sunday, a fixture that will take place in Doha, highlighting Qatar’s growing influence in French football.
The match, traditionally seen as the curtain-raiser to the French football season, will be held at Stadium 974 in Doha, one of the venues used during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The French Champions Trophy has become a familiar fixture on foreign soil in recent years, with Qatar stepping in after the game was initially planned for Beijing.
While China was set to host the match to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations with France, the Chinese authorities called off the event, just as they did the previous year when Thailand was slated to host.
With other potential venues like Ivory Coast off the table, Qatar offered the best alternative for both the French Football League (LFP) and the two participating clubs, PSG and Monaco.
“Several offers were made, and the Doha solution was the best solution for the date, both for the LFP and for the two participating teams,” the LFP told AFP, emphasizing Qatar’s role in ensuring the event went ahead.
The match is sponsored by Qatar’s tourism authority and is set to showcase PSG’s dominance over French football once again.
If they win, PSG will claim their 11th Champions Trophy in 12 years, continuing a legacy that has firmly placed the club at the top of the domestic game.
Qatar’s influence in French football dates back to 2011 when Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) acquired PSG. Under QSI’s ownership, PSG has evolved from an ailing giant into the dominant force in France, crushing rivals with their immense financial backing.
The club’s ascent has also been mirrored by the political influence of Nasser al-Khelaifi, PSG’s president and a key figure in the LFP, as well as the chairman of beIN Media Group, which is a domestic broadcaster of Ligue 1.
This growing connection between Qatar and French football has raised some eyebrows, as PSG’s financial might and success now overshadow many of their rivals.
The Parisians are on track to win their 11th Ligue 1 title in the last 13 seasons, and their dominance extends to the Champions Trophy, where they have been consistently successful.
For this edition, PSG’s opponents, Monaco, were chosen as challengers after PSG claimed both the French Cup and Ligue 1 last season.
Monaco, who finished second in Ligue 1, will be aiming to lift their first trophy since 2017, making this an exciting clash for the French football community.
PSG enters the game as the heavy favorites, having recently beaten Monaco 4-2 in Ligue 1 just before the mid-season break.
The team’s coach, Luis Enrique, has expressed confidence about the match, calling it “like a home game” for the Parisians, given the presence of the club’s Qatari ownership.
In an effort to bring their fans to Doha, PSG offered a special package that included a return flight, hotel accommodation, and a match ticket for only 100 euros.
However, despite the attractive offer, the club’s most fervent supporters, the ultras, have opted out, with many unwilling to travel for a game staged abroad.
As PSG continues to exert its dominance both domestically and internationally, the Champions Trophy in Qatar underscores the ever-growing influence of the Gulf state on French football.