Budapest Chosen for 2026 Champions League Final

UEFA has announced that Budapest will be the host city for the men's Champions League final in 2026. This decision comes after deliberations between Budapest's Puskás Arena and Milan's San Siro stadium, with uncertainties surrounding the latter's future.

The upcoming final will take place at Wembley Stadium in London, followed by Bayern Munich's home hosting the event the following year.

San Siro, also known as Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, faces potential demolition as AC Milan and Inter Milan seek new venues. The Italian soccer federation is considering refurbishment plans before making a final decision on the stadium's fate.

In Milan, Inter's ownership has shifted from Chinese corporation Suning to US investors Oaktree due to financial issues. Despite the uncertainties, San Siro, with a capacity of 75,000, could still host its fifth European final, following the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony.

The Puskás Arena in Budapest, with a capacity of 70,000 and strong support from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and FIFA vice president Sándor Csányi, has been a favored venue for UEFA.

Oslo, Norway, will host the Women's Champions League final in 2026, while Istanbul is set to host the 2026 Europa League final, with Eintracht Frankfurt's stadium hosting the 2027 final.

Leipzig, Germany, will host the 2026 Conference League final, and Istanbul is slated for the 2027 final. Turkey aims to move the 2027 final to a new stadium in Ankara ahead of co-hosting the 2032 men's European Championship with Italy.

Despite Israel's unsuccessful bid to host the Conference League final, UEFA has extended trials of safe standing areas at European club games to several countries, following a campaign by the Football Supporters Europe group.

UEFA's selection of Budapest for the 2026 men's Champions League final and the uncertainties surrounding San Siro's future highlight the evolving landscape of European football. With various cities preparing to host prestigious finals in the coming years, football fans can look forward to exciting matches in state-of-the-art venues across the continent.