Camp Nou wins bid to host 2029 Champions League final
Barcelona’s renovated Camp Nou will host the 2029 UEFA Champions League final after UEFA selected the stadium over London’s Wembley, the governing body announced Tuesday.
UEFA’s executive committee made the decision during its meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece, awarding Barcelona its first Champions League final in 30 years. The match is scheduled for June 2, 2029.
Rebuilt Camp Nou set for major showcase
The 104,000-plus-seat stadium is undergoing a major redevelopment that has faced repeated delays, with work continuing on the upper tier and roof.
Once completed, the venue is expected to be one of Europe’s largest football stadiums, with expanded hospitality facilities, improved accessibility and upgraded technology.
Barcelona’s bid was submitted jointly by the club, Barcelona City Council and the Catalan government, with backing from the Spanish Football Federation and the city’s hospitality sector.
UEFA identified the stadium’s capacity and hospitality facilities as key strengths of the successful bid.
Barcelona returns to Champions League spotlight
Camp Nou last hosted the Champions League final in 1999, when Manchester United scored twice in stoppage time to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1.
The stadium also staged the 1989 European Cup final, in which AC Milan beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0.
The 2029 final will give Barcelona a major international sporting event one year before Spain joins Portugal and Morocco in hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta described the decision as international recognition for the rebuilt stadium and thanked local and regional authorities and the Spanish federation for supporting the bid.
Bayern Munich gets 2028 final
UEFA also confirmed that the 2028 Champions League final will be played at Bayern Munich’s stadium.
The German venue was the only bidder and will host the final three years after staging the 2025 edition.
This season’s Champions League final is scheduled for Madrid’s Metropolitano Stadium, home of Atletico Madrid.
Europa League finals awarded to Bucharest and Belgrade
UEFA selected Bucharest to host the 2028 Europa League final and Belgrade for the 2029 final.
The National Arena in Bucharest will stage the 2028 showpiece, while Serbia’s new national stadium, currently under construction outside Belgrade, will host the following year’s final.
The decision comes amid closer UEFA ties with Serbian football. Serbia is due to co-host next year’s European Under-21 Championship with Albania.
Lyon and Cardiff get women’s finals
Lyon was selected to host the 2028 Women’s Champions League final, giving the competition’s record eight-time winners a chance to stage the final in their home city.
Cardiff will host the 2029 Women’s Champions League final at the Welsh national stadium, which will also stage the opening match of the 2028 European Championship.
Turin and Budapest selected for Conference League
Turin will host the 2028 Conference League final at Juventus’ stadium, while Budapest’s 67,000-seat Puskas Arena was selected for the 2029 final.
The Conference League, launched in 2021, has increasingly moved its final to larger venues after its first two title matches were held in Tirana and Prague.
Source:DailySabah
