In a recent announcement, UEFA has selected Budapest to host the men’s Champions League final in 2026. This decision comes as the organization decided to delay awarding the 2027 final to Milan, citing uncertainty over the future of San Siro. The Puskás Arena in Budapest and San Siro in Milan were the two candidates in consideration for these prestigious events.
San Siro, also known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, has been under threat of demolition for some time now. The iconic stadium, which is owned by the city of Milan, is shared by AC Milan and Inter Milan. Both clubs have been exploring the possibility of finding new, individually-owned homes. The decision to delay awarding the final to Milan is pending the submission of refurbishment plans for San Siro by the Italian football federation.
It was reported that Inter Milan’s ownership recently transitioned from Chinese corporation Suning to United States-based investors Oaktree due to financial difficulties. This development has added to the uncertainty surrounding the future of San Siro and its potential to host future European football finals.
Apart from Budapest hosting the 2026 Champions League final, UEFA has also made decisions regarding the hosting of other finals. Oslo, Norway, has been awarded the Women’s Champions League final in 2026, while Istanbul will host the Europa League final in 2026, followed by Eintracht Frankfurt’s home in 2027. Additionally, Leipzig and Istanbul have been chosen as the host cities for the Conference League final in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
The Puskás Arena in Budapest, which opened just five years ago, has quickly become a favored venue for UEFA. Having hosted a Europa League final last year and serving as a replacement venue during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 70,000-seat arena continues to attract major events in European football.
The recent decisions made by UEFA regarding the host cities for upcoming European football finals highlight the organization’s commitment to ensuring the success and sustainability of these prestigious events. As cities like Budapest step into the spotlight as hosts for finals, the future of European football continues to evolve, promising exciting developments for fans and players alike.
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