The pandemic has called everything into question.
Since 2009, the Champions Trophy has been organized abroad with the aim of promoting Ligue 1 internationally.
But the virus forced the organizer, the Professional Football League (LFP), to review its plans twice: in France and more at the start of the season, already delayed for health reasons and by the Final 8 of PSG in Lisbon in August.
In the absence of a trip to Tangier in Morocco or Shenzhen in China, the LFP, which unveiled the final choice on December 10, launched in the heart of the autumn a consultation with all French stadiums.
It "received 10 applications and selected RC Lens after examining many criteria including the quality of the pitch, the reception conditions for the clubs, the TV rendering and the cost of making the stadium available", slips the instance.
A return abroad when the health situation permits
Among the failures were two other cities in the North: Lille and Valenciennes.
The Agglomeration had a say even if it is the Losc, for example, which did not really want this Champions Trophy, for fear that its ground was damaged with an additional match in January, often a period delicate for lawns.
"After this edition in Bollaert-Delelis, the objective is to organize the Champions Trophy again abroad if the health situation allows it", develops the League.
The new president, Vincent Labrune, will indeed be present in Lens this Wednesday, along with Arnaud Rouger the executive director general of the body.
They will welcome two usual residents of their board of directors, the two presidents of Paris and Marseille, Nasser Al-Khelaïfi and Jacques-Henri Eyraud.
Joseph Oughourlian, their counterpart from Lens, will also attend this meeting, behind closed doors, like all the others.