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The UEFA Champions League final is a big deal in football around the world and not just across Europe.
As a result, only the cream of the crop are shortlisted to host one of the most-watched club football matches in a calendar year.
UEFA confirmed on Friday that they are accepting declarations of interest from bidders among its member associations up until June 10, but there have already been some interesting names in the hat.
The floated idea of hosting this grand final in New York has been parked for now, with the body stating that it will not happen until 2030, at least.
However, Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena was the only confirmed bid for the 2028 Champions League final, meaning the city will likely host it again, despite being the venue last season.
Wembley’s bid for the 2029 final is set to be rivalled by another famous arena in Europe, after the English national stadium hosted the final in 2024.
Barcelona, it turns out, have not hosted the Champions League final since 1999, when Manchester United famously broke Bayern Munich hearts with two stoppage-time goals to seal their treble.
With the renovations set to increase Camp Nou’s capacity to 105,000, the largest on the continent, Barcelona’s new home may get to host a glorious European night after 30 years.
This year’s final takes place at Budapest’s Puskas Arena, while next year’s goes to Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium.
Europe will know the decision of the UEFA executive committee in September next year, when they announce the venues for all club finals in 2028 and 2029.
Europa League bidders
Juventus’ Allianz Stadium last hosted the Europa League final in 2014, and the 41,000-seater has been put forward by the Italian Football Federation to host Europe’s second and third-tier finals for 2028 and 2029, respectively.
Romania’s National Stadium in Bucharest, the National Arena, is another candidate for either of the finals, and it just may get it with its retractable roof, bound to create a raucous atmosphere.
The Parc des Princes in Paris and the Groupama Stadium in Lyon are the arenas that the French federation is still considering.
Two new European stadiums will be competing, the new Serbian national arena in Belgrade will be up for the 2028 final, while Ankara 19 Mayıs Stadium in Turkey is in the race for 2029.
Conference League bidders
The third-tier event was launched in 2021, and it appears that the 67,000-seater Puskas Arena will be the largest stadium to host this final, if they can secure it for either 2028 or 2029.
A few other arenas are in the hunt for both finals, including Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Arena Gdansk in Poland and Kazakhstan, which is yet to decide between the Astana Arena or Almaty Central Stadium, the latter the home of Champions League newcomers, Kairat Almaty.
Finland has also chipped in with a bid to host the 2029 Conference League final at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium.
FGG says
The purist in me will always want a grand final like this to be at Wembley, especially with so much history in it and that glorious arch that beautifies the London skyline, for any football fan that is.
However, with Barcelona not hosting a final since 1999, it seems fitting that they do so 30 years after a thrilling finish to the competition, and the fact that no other stadium in Europe eclipses its new capacity means it should rightfully go to the new Spotify Camp Nou.
