FC Bayern isn't expected to play a Bundesliga match abroad any time soon. © APA/afp / KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV

“Nonsense”: Bundesliga should not play abroad

Presidential spokesman Hans-Joachim Watzke has rejected possible official matches of the German Football League abroad.

September 03, 2025

From: dpa/sn

"It's basically quite simple: As long as I'm in charge of the league, there will be no competitive matches played abroad. Period," said the 66-year-old after his re-election at the DFL general assembly. "That's not open to interpretation."

In other countries, such as Italy and Spain, the Supercup is regularly played abroad—most notably in Saudi Arabia. The rules for the German Supercup, between the champions and the cup winners, state: "The date and venue for the Supercup shall be determined by the DFL eV. The DFL eV also reserves the right to name a stadium abroad as the venue."

Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen, who was elected to the DFL executive committee, agreed with Watzke. "My position is crystal clear: I think this is nonsense," he said of a Supercup abroad. "We have the foundation of the German Bundesliga here in Germany. As such, we shouldn't turn the Supercup into a purely marketing event, but rather treat the fans in Germany with it."

Europe's football fans protest

In a joint statement, dozens of associations, organizations, and groups of European fans spoke out against official competitive matches abroad. This is in response to the Spanish and Italian leagues' plans to relocate a league match to the USA and Australia, respectively.

Watzke will also represent a "clear opinion" as a member of the Executive Committee of the European Football Union UEFA when it comes to possible applications from Italy and Spain on this issue, the 66-year-old emphasized.