UEFA president open to hosting Champions League final outside Europe

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — The Champions League final could be contested outside Europe for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says he will revive an open bidding process for the right to host the climax to the European club season and is open to the game being staged in New York. Ceferin highlighted how travel times across Europe can be as long as flights to the United States.

Ceferin says "to go from Portugal to Azerbaijan for example is almost the same or the same as if you go to New York. For the fans it's no problem but we should see. It's a European competition so let's think about it."

Ceferin, a Slovenian, succeeded Michael Platini last month as head of European soccer.

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