Has the UEFA Champions League final outgrown its European roots? Is it just a matter of time before this premier club football event is hosted in locations like the United States, the Middle East, or even beyond?
Recently, Juan Emilio Roa, the commercial director of CONMEBOL, the South American football confederation, revealed that discussions about hosting the Copa Libertadores outside South America are underway, primarily aiming to leverage commercial opportunities. In contrast, UEFA’s predicament now leans more towards practical considerations than merely financial ones.
While hosting the final carries prestige and promises economic benefits for the local host city, UEFA recently disclosed that only Munich has put forth a bid for the 2028 final, and only London and Barcelona are competing for the rights to host the 2029 final.
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It’s been a long time since Barcelona hosted the Champions League final, the last being in 1999 when Manchester United triumphed over Bayern Munich at Camp Nou. The old stadium has been renovated and will soon reopen, but Munich’s Allianz Arena recently hosted this year’s final, featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan, while Wembley Stadium in London is set to host the final in 2024 for the third time in thirteen years.
After UEFA stripped Milan of its hosting rights for 2027 due to the city’s inability to guarantee that the San Siro would be ready, Atlético Madrid‘s Estadio Metropolitano was selected to host the event, having last done so in 2019.
Could the Champions League final eventually take place in the U.S.? Imagine a matchup between Real Madrid and Liverpool in New York City, or perhaps Bayern Munich facing off against Paris Saint-Germain in Chicago?
“If the Champions League final were to be held in the U.S., it would undoubtedly be a tremendous success,” said Charlie Stillitano, a U.S.-based sports executive and promoter.
“Don Garber, the MLS commissioner, openly stated that the U.S. is the ‘ATM of the soccer world.’ I recall Peter Kenyon, the former CEO of Manchester United and Chelsea, mentioning two decades ago that there were around 50 million affluent football fans in the U.S. Today, that number has likely increased to 100 million, showcasing an insatiable hunger for top-tier sporting events like the Champions League final.”
However, UEFA president Aleksandar Ceferin recently emphasized the importance of playing European league games on domestic soil, particularly regarding Villarreal’s LaLiga match against Barcelona in Miami, suggesting that UEFA is unlikely to move the Champions League final overseas in the near future.
The Barcelona match in Miami against Villarreal has been canceled, but there are still plans for AC Milan to play their Serie A match against Como in Perth, Australia, next February. Although Ceferin has voiced concerns about league matches being held overseas, he mentioned in 2023 that “it’s possible” for the Champions League final to occur in the U.S.
What is evident is UEFA’s diminishing options for suitable host cities and stadiums for this prestigious match. Between 1993, when the Champions League was rebranded, and Liverpool’s 2005 victory over AC Milan in Istanbul, twelve different cities hosted thirteen finals; the only repeat was Munich’s Olympiastadion. Notable cities like Athens, Vienna, Rome, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Paris, Milan, Glasgow, Manchester, Gelsenkirchen, and Istanbul contributed to this diverse list.
However, sources indicate that UEFA now has as few as four reliable venues available for future Champions League finals, largely due to the stringent requirements cities must meet to host the event. A stadium must hold at least 65,000 spectators and have adequate space for secure perimeters, as well as necessary infrastructure, including an international airport, robust transportation networks, and sufficient local accommodation for fans, media, and VIPs.
Additionally, the venue must provide a comprehensive broadcasting compound equipped for media production, along with ample corporate hospitality areas to meet high demand.
With a capacity of 90,000, 161 corporate boxes, and nine banquet suites that can accommodate 18,000 guests, alongside connections to four major airports, a vast transportation network, and ample hotel accommodations, Wembley is seen by UEFA as the ideal venue for the Champions League final.
The new Camp Nou, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, and the Metropolitano have similar advantages, while Munich satisfies most of UEFA’s criteria, although it has a smaller stadium and fewer hotel options.
Budapest will host the 2026 final at the 67,100-capacity Puskás Aréna; however, this event may strain the city’s capacity. With only one airport and an outdated metro system, it’s reported that 92% of accommodation for the Champions League final weekend is already booked. If successful, Budapest might motivate similar-sized cities to bid for future finals, but for now, UEFA’s choices remain limited.
Cities like Moscow (2008 host) and Saint Petersburg (initial 2022 host before it moved to Paris) are no longer viable due to Russia’s exclusion from UEFA competitions since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv, which hosted the 2018 final, is similarly off the table due to ongoing conflict. Rome’s Stadio Olimpico hasn’t hosted a final since 2009, as neither its facilities nor the city’s infrastructure meet current demands. Paris is unlikely to be considered until UEFA can address the crowd-control issues experienced during the controversial 2022 final.
Previous hosts including Vienna, Amsterdam, and Glasgow no longer feature suitable stadiums, while infrastructure challenges impede Athens, Lisbon, Manchester, and Cardiff. While Berlin remains a possible option should a bid be submitted, Baku’s potential hosting in 2027 fell flat due to logistical challenges for fans traveling from Western Europe.
“I attended the 2019 Europa League final in Baku,” Stillitano remarked. “And honestly, it would have been more accessible and cheaper for fans if that match had taken place in New York instead of Azerbaijan.”
“The U.S. could indeed host the Champions League final without question. With over five million fans expressing interest in World Cup tickets next year, the demand and funding are there, but I suspect the next logical step might be organizing the Club World Cup every two years.”
“FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League are the three most influential football organizations in the world, and both FIFA and the Premier League have begun to establish roots in the U.S. sports landscape. The future of UEFA is still uncertain, but taking the Champions League beyond Europe is complex for them right now.”
Currently, sources suggest UEFA has no immediate plans to move the Champions League final beyond Europe. However, they face a pivotal decision: either continue with a limited selection of host cities—such as London, Madrid, Munich, and Barcelona—or venture into global markets and present club football’s grandest match on the world stage.