Trophée des Champions (France) 2026/27

The Trophée des Champions serves as the ceremonial opening to the French football season. It is a single-match contest organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) and the French Football Federation (FFF). The participants are determined by the previous season’s results, with the Ligue 1 winner facing the Coupe de France champion. If a club wins the domestic double, the Ligue 1 runner-up takes the cup winner’s place. The match is decided in one game; if tied after 90 minutes, it proceeds directly to a penalty shootout. The competition has a complex history marked by three distinct phases. An unofficial match was played in 1949. The official "Challenge des champions" was established by the FFF in 1955 and ran annually until 1973, with brief revivals in 1985 and 1986. It was discontinued from 1974 to 1984 and 1987 to 1994. The current iteration, renamed "Trophée des Champions," was reinstated in 1995 and first played in January 1996. Paris Saint-Germain is the most successful club with 14 titles, including a record eight consecutive wins from 2013 to 2020. Lyon follows with 8 titles. The largest margin of victory is 7–1, recorded by Stade de Reims against Lille in 1955. The highest-scoring final in the modern era since 1995 was the 2011 match between Marseille and Lille, ending 5–4. The 2025 edition was played on January 8, 2026, in Kuwait, where PSG defeated Marseille 2–2 before winning 4–1 on penalties. While often treated as an official title by clubs, the FFF classifies it as a ceremonial exhibition match rather than a core competitive title in the pyramid. Unlike league competitions, there is no promotion or relegation. It is distinct from continental competitions like the UEFA Super Cup as it is purely domestic. The venue has frequently been international since 2009, with recent editions in Qatar in 2024 and Kuwait in 2025. The 2026 edition is scheduled for Lens, France.