Budapest to Host 2026 Men's Champions League Final, Milan's Hosting Conditional on San Siro Renovation
Budapest, the capital of Hungary, will host the men's Champions League final in 2026. This decision was confirmed by UEFA during their meeting in Dublin, just before the Europa League final between Bayer Leverkusen and Atalanta Bergamo. The following season, the final could return to Milan if the San Siro stadium is renovated in time. UEFA has postponed its final decision for the 2027 venue until September 24, while awaiting further details on the renovation plans from the Italian federation.
In addition to the Champions League announcements, UEFA has also finalized the locations for the Europa League and Conference League finals for 2026 and 2027. The Europa League finals will be held in Istanbul, Turkey in 2026 and Frankfurt, Germany in 2027. Meanwhile, Leipzig, Germany, and Istanbul will host the Conference League finals respectively in 2026 and 2027. In a noteworthy decision for women's football, Oslo, Norway, will host the 2026 Women's Champions League final, while the location for the 2027 final remains undecided due to the disqualification of Stuttgart's candidacy.
Expansion of Standing Stands Experiment
UEFA also discussed the expansion of its experiment with standing stands for European club competitions, a project in place since the 2022-2023 season. Originally implemented in France, Germany, and England, the trial has now extended to Italy and Spain, and will further include clubs in the Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Scotland, and Austria for the 2024-2025 season. Standing places are seen as a way to enhance match atmosphere, reduce costs, and bolster fan culture. Advocates, including Ronan Evain, executive director of Football Supporters Europe, and Gregor Weinreich, coordinator of the 'Europe wants to stand' campaign, have cited the successful implementation of standing places at Bayern Munich's home matches as a model for other clubs.
- The decision to hold off on confirming Milan as the 2027 final host until the San Siro renovation plans are clarified underscores the importance UEFA places on having modern, safe facilities for its premier events.
- The announcement of multiple host cities across different competitions reflects UEFA's strategic effort to diversify and expand its footprint across Europe, thereby engaging a broader fanbase.
- UEFA's initiative to reintroduce standing places at stadiums indicates a growing recognition of fan preferences and the cultural significance of standing areas in enhancing the match-day experience.
