Kuwait hosts a French football “Clasico” today, Thursday, as Paris Saint-Germain faces Marseille in the Champions Cup. This match brings together two teams with contrasting ambitions, eagerly awaited by French football fans to see if the Parisian club will continue its trophy haul or if Marseille can finally claim a long-awaited title.
Paris Saint-Germain enters the match enjoying one of its most prosperous periods, having won most of the possible trophies in 2025, most notably the French League, the French Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the European Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup, in addition to winning the previous edition of the Champions Cup in Doha. The only title that eluded them was the Club World Cup, after losing the final to England’s Chelsea.
With the start of 2026, Saint-Germain aims to open its season with a new title, facing its traditional rival Marseille, last season’s French League runner-up, adding an extra competitive dimension to the match.
The Parisian players carry a special motivation to avenge their loss to Marseille in the league last September, a defeat that remains fresh in their minds, as the team captain confirmed, noting that Clasico matches always have a special character.
On the other hand, Marseille enters the match with the ambition of reclaiming past glory, as its last title dates back to 2012 when it won the League Cup. However, its task will not be easy, especially if it continues the modest performance shown recently, having lost at home to Nantes with a clean double in the league.
The Marseille coach expressed reservations about holding the match outside of France, given the absence of both teams’ fans from the stands, despite the French League’s hopes for a large crowd at Kuwait’s Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.
In contrast, the Paris Saint-Germain coach welcomed playing the match in Kuwait, expressing his happiness at holding this football event in front of new fans, as he seeks to lead his team to a fourth consecutive Champions Cup title.
Kuwait
Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state located at the head of the Persian Gulf, historically established as a sheikhdom in the 18th century by clans from the Arabian interior. Its modern history was profoundly shaped by the discovery of oil in the 1930s, which transformed it into a wealthy nation, and by the Iraqi invasion and subsequent Gulf War in 1990-1991.
Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain is a professional football club based in Paris, France, founded in 1970 following the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain. It has become one of France’s most successful clubs, winning numerous domestic titles and establishing itself as a major force in European football.
Marseille
Marseille is France’s oldest city, founded around 600 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea as Massalia. It grew into a major Mediterranean port and commercial hub, with its historic Vieux-Port remaining a cultural and economic center for centuries. Today, it is a vibrant, diverse metropolis known for its unique blend of French and Provençal culture.
Champions Cup
The Champions Cup is the annual final match of the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s premier club football competition. First contested in 1956 as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, it was rebranded in 1992 to include a round-robin group stage. The match is one of the most-watched annual sporting events in the world.
French League
The French League, also known as Ligue 1, is the top professional football division in France. Founded in 1932 under the name National before becoming Division 1 and later Ligue 1, it is organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel and features clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Olympique de Marseille, and AS Monaco.
French Cup
The French Cup, officially known as the Coupe de France, is the premier knockout football competition in France, first held in 1917. It is open to all amateur and professional clubs affiliated with the French Football Federation, making it famous for the possibility of “giant-killing” where small teams can defeat elite opponents.
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). It was first introduced in the 1955–56 season as the European Champion Clubs’ Cup, evolving into its current format in 1992 to include a round-robin group stage. It is widely considered the most prestigious club tournament in European football.
European Super Cup
The European Super Cup is an annual football match organized by UEFA, contested between the winners of the previous season’s UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. It was first held in 1972 and was originally a two-legged fixture before becoming a single match in 1998.
Intercontinental Cup
The Intercontinental Cup was an annual football competition contested between the winners of the European Cup/UEFA Champions League and the South American Copa Libertadores from 1960 to 2004. It was organized by UEFA and CONMEBOL to determine the best club side in the world, often characterized by intense and sometimes violent matches. It was replaced in 2005 by the FIFA Club World Cup.
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, a modern metropolis that transformed from a small pearl fishing and trading port into a global hub during the 20th century following the discovery of oil and natural gas. Its history is showcased at sites like the Museum of Islamic Art and the Souq Waqif, a traditional market restored to reflect Qatar’s heritage.
Club World Cup
The Club World Cup is an international men’s football tournament organized by FIFA, contested by the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations. It was first held in 2000, succeeding the Intercontinental Cup, which had run since 1960 and pitted the champions of Europe and South America against each other.
England
England is a country within the United Kingdom with a rich history dating back to ancient settlements, including Roman occupation and the formation of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. It later became a central power in the British Empire and was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, profoundly influencing global politics, culture, and economics.
Chelsea
Chelsea is a historic and affluent district in West London, known for its association with the arts and the annual Chelsea Flower Show. Its history includes being a fashionable village outside London in the 18th century and a hub for artists and writers during the 19th and 20th centuries. The area is also home to the Chelsea Physic Garden, founded in 1673 as one of the oldest botanical gardens in England.
Nantes
Nantes is a historic port city in western France, known for its role as a major trading hub during the Atlantic slave trade and as the former capital of the Duchy of Brittany. Today, it is celebrated for its vibrant cultural scene, including the innovative mechanical wonders of Les Machines de l’île, which draw on the city’s industrial and maritime heritage.
France
France is a Western European nation with a rich cultural and historical legacy, dating from ancient Celtic settlements and Roman conquest to its formation as a unified kingdom. It became a global center of art, philosophy, and political thought, notably through the Enlightenment and the French Revolution of 1789. Today, it is known for its influential cuisine, art, and architecture, and remains a major political and economic force within the European Union.
Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
The Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium is a major multi-purpose stadium in Kuwait City, inaugurated in 2009 and named after the late Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. It is the national stadium of Kuwait and one of the largest in the country, with a capacity of over 60,000 spectators, having hosted events like the Gulf Cup of Nations.
