Fernando Carro, the CEO of reigning Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen, has surfaced the possibility of playing the DFL Supercup abroad. In the 2023/24 season, Leverkusen won a domestic double with the league and DFB Pokal. Then, to kick off the current season, Leverkusen won the German Supercup. That game was in Leverkusen, as the team that won the Bundesliga traditionally plays away. Yet, Leverkusen won both competitions, meaning it was the host. Yet, Carro wants to make both teams effectively away teams for the DFL-Supercup. 



Speaking to ESPN during a trophy tour in the United States, Carro discussed potential changes he would like to see in German soccer. He alluded to other leagues that have changed their formatting and scheduling. LaLiga and Serie A, for example, have moved their Supercup competitions to Saudi Arabia. Carro sees a world where the DFL moves its Supercup to the USA.



“For me personally, and I can’t speak for anyone else, it would be possible to have the Supercup in the USA or another country,” <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/41326587/ceo-fernando-carro-outspoken-ambition-takes-bayer-leverkusen-new-heights-bundesliga" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Carro said</a>. “Many fans don’t like it anyway with it being the same weekend as the first Pokal round, so we could do it differently. We have to have new ways of thinking, and this can be one example.”



Compared to other leagues, the Bundesliga is notably traditional. While other countries and competitions have added more games, the Bundesliga remains stout in ensuring it sticks to its time-proven tactics. For example, the Bundesliga adheres to a winter break that can last one month. Yet, no league would shy away from more money, particularly with the disparity in finances growing among Europe’s top leagues. 



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240920_WST_530040_Fernando-Carro-Bundesliga-1200x675_84271f9f.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=675" alt="" class="wp-image-530075" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Fernando-Carro-Bundesliga-1200x675.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Fernando-Carro-Bundesliga-300x169.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Fernando-Carro-Bundesliga-768x432.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Fernando-Carro-Bundesliga-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/09/Fernando-Carro-Bundesliga.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></figure>



<h2>New partnership with Relevent could help push DFL Supercup to USA</h2>



The <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tv/dfl-hires-relevent-to-sell-bundesliga-media-rights-in-usa/">Bundesliga recently signed a deal</a> with American media agency Relevent to grow its popularity in North, Central, and South America. The crux of this deal revolves around media rights. In the 2024/25 season, the Bundesliga is entering the penultimate year of its broadcasting deal with ESPN. Therefore, the league must begin the process of brokering a new rights deal.



However, Relevent will also expand the DFL’s marketing and sales in the region. The sports and entertainment group could work to bring the DFL Supercup to the United States. Relevent is one of the leading forces behind the further push to host a <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/laliga-president-says-games-are-coming-to-usa-in-2025-26/">competitive LaLiga game</a> in the United States. If Carro’s sentiment about the DFL Supercup is shared among other executives and fans, it would make sense to move that game to the USA. It is a one-off game that does not have overt significance to the top teams in Germany, at least compared to Bundesliga or DFB Pokal games. 



The only issue goes back to the fans. Initial reaction to Carro’s comments about moving the DFL Supercup to the USA has been negative. Again, there is no concrete plan to make this happen, and Carro admitted that he cannot speak for anyone else in Germany. Yet, seeing so many supporters outwardly voice their opposition to this idea speaks volumes about how well-received any actual motion would look. 



Carro has not been shy to embrace change in the Bundesliga. His club has reaped the rewards, and the Bundesliga may be willing to embrace some of Carro’s ideology. 



PHOTOS: IMAGO.

DFL Supercup should be played in US, says Bundesliga champs

Fernando Carro, the CEO of reigning Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen, has resurfaced the possibility of playing the DFL Supercup abroad.

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As the last round of matches in the Bundesliga came to a close, Harry Kane’s already dismal season took a fresh turn for the worse.



The Englishman’s quest for his first career trophy suffered another setback as Bayern Munich concluded their season with a disappointing defeat, finishing third in the Bundesliga. 



This outcome means Bayern, and by extension Kane, will <a href="https://www.dfl.de/en/topics/supercup/">not compete in next season’s German Super Cup</a>. Thus, it marks a significant departure from their usual dominance.



On the final day of the German league season, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/bayern-munich-tv-schedule/">Bayern Munich</a> faced Hoffenheim, needing a positive result to secure second place. However, despite taking a 2-0 lead, Thomas Tuchel’s players crumbled in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/trophy-curse-of-harry-kane-is-affecting-bayerns-title-race-20240123-WST-485075.html">Kane</a>‘s absence, ultimately losing 4-2.



This defeat, combined with Stuttgart’s victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, allowed Stuttgart to leapfrog Bayern into second place. Consequently, the Bavarians finished third, their lowest position since the 2011-12 season.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="445" height="433" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240519_WST_507877_image-35_74f14737.webp&amp;width=445&amp;height=433" alt="" class="wp-image-507915" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/image-35.png 445w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/image-35-300x292.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px"></figure><figcaption>Harry Kane has not won a trophy since moving to Bayern Munich</figcaption></figure>



<h2>What does it mean for Bayern?</h2>



For the Bundesliga giants, the third-place finish has notable repercussions. The <a href="https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/champions-leverkusen-2024-supercup-opponents-bayern-stuttgart-kaiserslautern-26997">German Super Cup</a>, played by the winners of the German Cup and Bundesliga, will not include Bayern for the first time since 2011.



Bayer Leverkusen, who triumphed in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/where-to-watch-the-bundesliga-on-us-tv-and-internet/">Bundesliga</a> and are favorites to win the German Cup, will play in the Super Cup. If they secure both titles, Stuttgart will face Leverkusen, sidelining Bayern from the competition.



Despite his side’s struggles, the England international has enjoyed a remarkable debut season in the German top flight. The former Tottenham striker has scored 36 goals in 32 league matches; that’s totaling 44 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions. 



His prolific scoring, however, has not translated into team success. Bayern were eliminated early from the German Cup and fell in the semi-finals of the Champions League, adding to a season of disappointments.



<h2>When is Kane’s next trophy opportunity?</h2>



Reflecting on the season earlier, Kane acknowledged the high expectations at Bayern and the disappointment of not securing any trophies. “Of course, from the club’s point of view, it will be a failed season if we don’t win anything this year because we’re expected to win, but all we can do is take that into next year and try and turn that around”, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/1chjekg/fabrizio_harry_kane_wants_to_stay_at_bayern_for/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">he stated</a>.



The 30-year-old remained optimistic about his future in Germany, emphasizing his long-term commitment to the club. “I’m here for many years. It’s not a one-off year I’m here for. The Champions League is the biggest one. If we can somehow get our hands on that one, it would be an amazing season. These are the big games. The atmosphere was incredible. This is exactly why I came here, I want to be playing in these big games, these big moments.”



Kane’s next opportunity for silverware will come with the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/nations/england-national-team-tv-schedule/">England national team</a> at the upcoming <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-european-championship-tv-schedule/">European Championship</a>. Having reached the finals in the last Euros and the semi-finals in the 2018 <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/world-cup-tv-schedule/">World Cup</a>, Kane and the Three Lions will be eager to go one step further. His impressive form for Bayern bodes well for his contributions on the international stage.



Photo credit: IMAGO / Sven Simon

Still no trophy for Kane: Bayern fall short of DFL-Supercup spot

As the last round of matches in the Bundesliga came to a close, Harry Kane's already dismal season took a fresh turn for the worse.

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DFL Supercup should be played in US, says Bundesliga champs

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Still no trophy for Kane: Bayern fall short of DFL-Supercup spot