Could lack of options force the Champions League final to go global?
UEFA is confronting a dwindling pool of suitable host cities for the UEFA Champions League final, raising speculation about the possibility of staging Europe’s premier club fixture outside the continent. Only Munich has bid for the 2028 final, while London and Barcelona remain the only contenders for 2029, highlighting logistical challenges that could prompt UEFA to explore international venues in the future.
The issue is less commercial than practical. Despite the prestige and economic benefits of hosting, UEFA requires stadiums with a minimum capacity of 65,000, extensive hotel infrastructure, secure perimeters, reliable public transport, and space for broadcast and corporate facilities. Sources indicate that only a handful of venues — including Wembley, the renovated Camp Nou, Santiago Bernabéu, the Metropolitano, and Munich’s Allianz Arena — currently meet these criteria.
Barcelona has not hosted a Champions League final since 1999, but the newly renovated Camp Nou may soon rejoin the rotation. Munich staged this year’s final at Allianz Arena, while London’s Wembley has hosted three finals in the last 13 years, thanks to its 90,000 capacity, 161 corporate boxes, and nine banqueting suites accommodating 18,000 guests.
UEFA stripped Milan of the 2027 hosting rights after the city failed to guarantee that the San Siro would meet requirements, with Inter and AC Milan now planning a new 71,500-seat stadium on the same site. Atlético Madrid’s Estadio Metropolitano, previously a 2019 host, was named the replacement. Budapest’s 67,100-capacity Puskás Aréna will stage the 2026 final, though local infrastructure is expected to be stretched to the limits.
The constraints have sparked debate over whether the Champions League final could eventually move overseas. U.S.-based sports promoter Charlie Stillitano described the potential as “a wild success,” citing the country’s large, affluent fan base. However, UEFA president Aleksander Čeferin has emphasized that European league games should remain on home soil, signaling reluctance to relocate the final in the immediate future.
Other cities face various obstacles: Moscow and Saint Petersburg are barred due to Russia’s suspension from UEFA competitions; Kyiv remains affected by conflict; Rome’s Olimpico, Paris, and previous hosts such as Vienna, Amsterdam, and Glasgow no longer meet UEFA standards for capacity or infrastructure. Baku and other distant venues have also faced challenges related to fan travel and logistics.
UEFA now faces a strategic choice: continue with a limited pool of tried-and-tested European venues — London, Madrid, Munich, and Barcelona — or explore taking football’s premier club final to a global stage. While no concrete plans exist to move the final outside Europe, the combination of shrinking suitable host cities and growing international interest ensures that the debate over a global Champions League final is unlikely to fade anytime soon.