FK Kauno Žalgiris face stadium clash after Pitbull concert booking

July 18, 2026 • 0 • min read

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FK Kauno Žalgiris face stadium clash after Pitbull concert booking

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Kauno Žalgiris may lose home advantage after a Pitbull concert booking at their stadium.
The Lithuanian champions earned around €1.7m by reaching the Champions League second qualifier.
The return leg against KI is expected to be moved to Jonava's 2,500-capacity stadium.

FK Kauno Žalgiris are on the verge of one of the biggest European nights in their history, but they may have to play it away from their own stadium after it was booked for a concert by American rapper Pitbull.

The Lithuanian champions secured their place in the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday after edging Kosovo champions Drita 3-2 in the second leg, completing a thrilling 4-3 aggregate victory.

The result also guarantees the club approximately €1.7 million in UEFA prize money, a significant financial boost for the Lithuanian side.

Their reward is a tie against Faroe Islands champions KÍ Klaksvik, with the first leg scheduled to take place in the Faroe Islands before the return fixture in Lithuania on 28 or 29 July.

However, there is an unexpected complication.

Pitbull concert creates stadium scheduling headache

Žalgiris' home ground, the 15,000-seat Darius and Girėnas Stadium, has already been reserved for Pitbull's European tour stop on 31 July.

Preparing the venue for a major concert requires several days of installation work, meaning the stadium is unlikely to be available in time for the Champions League fixture.

The club had reportedly explored the possibility of reversing the order of the two legs, allowing them to play at home first. That solution now appears highly unlikely.

The Faroe Islands celebrate St Olav's Day on 28 and 29 July, whilst another Faroese club, HB Tórshavn, are due to host Scottish side Motherwell in the UEFA Conference League on 30 July, creating additional demands on local policing and event planning.

As a result, Žalgiris are expected to relocate the match to Jonava, approximately 30 kilometres from Kaunas.

Jonava's stadium accommodates just over 2,500 spectators, dramatically reducing the home support the Lithuanian champions would otherwise enjoy.

Coach frustrated by unexpected situation

Head coach Željko Sopić did little to hide his disappointment after the victory over Drita.

Speaking after the match, the Croatian criticised the scheduling conflict, saying the team would have to move because of "a concert by some dog or somebody," before adding that it was probably better not to say any more about the situation.

His comments reflected the frustration of a club that had just achieved one of its most important European results in recent years.

Club defend commercial decision

Club chairman Mantas Kalnietis acknowledged that Žalgiris had been aware of the potential clash but had hoped UEFA would schedule the home leg first.

He explained that hosting major concerts provides vital income for both the stadium and the wider organisation.

For the stadium, concerts like this are a major source of revenue, and for the city’s residents it’s also a great time.

Ultimately the income generated strengthens our entire organisation, enabling us to build a better team and improve our chances of reaching the group stage.

He also noted that this is expected to be the stadium's only concert this summer, meaning similar scheduling conflicts should not arise in later qualifying rounds.

Lithuanian FA calls situation 'unfortunate'

Lithuanian Football Federation president Edgaras Stankevičius described the overlap as an unfortunate outcome.

Jonava stadium is nice and tidy as well, but it is still a big difference. It is normal to want to play these big games in your home stadium.

Situations like these certainly do not do any good for the development of Lithuanian football as a whole.

European dream continues despite setback

Despite the logistical headache, Žalgiris remain firmly focused on extending their European campaign.

The financial rewards from reaching the second qualifying round are already substantial, but playing in front of a significantly smaller crowd could reduce the home advantage they hoped to enjoy during one of the club's biggest Champions League matches.

Ironically, whilst Pitbull prepares to perform in Kaunas as part of his "I'm Back!" European Tour fresh from setting a Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people wearing bald caps in London - Lithuania's champions are preparing for a historic European tie that may have to be played somewhere else.