Munich hosting the Champions League final again?

Munich will host the Champions League final again in 2028, according to reports, making it the sixth time the city has been chosen for the prestigious event. The decision comes just one year after Paris Saint-Germain defeated Inter Milan 5-0 at the Allianz Arena in Munich to win the competition. This would mark the return of the Champions League final to the stadium, which previously hosted the 2012 “Final of Dreams” where Bayern Munich lost to Chelsea. The UEFA Executive Committee is set to announce its official decision in September, with Munich appearing to be the sole candidate for hosting the 2028 final. Three previous finals were held at the old Olympiastadion, while the Allianz Arena was the venue for the 2025 final and the 2012 match. The question arises as to why Munich would be selected so soon after the last final, given the frequency of repeated venues due to strict UEFA criteria. UEFA’s requirements for a host stadium include a natural grass pitch, dimensions of 105 x 68 meters, and a capacity of at least 70,000 spectators. A ten percent deviation is allowed, meaning the absolute minimum is 63,000 seats. Currently, 22 stadiums in Europe meet these standards. However, due to the war in Ukraine, cities such as St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Kyiv have been excluded, leaving 19 stadiums in contention. Among the top contenders, Barcelona's Camp Nou has emerged as a potential candidate for the 2029 final. Although it was not initially considered due to ongoing renovations and delays, the reconstruction is nearing completion, positioning it alongside Wembley as one of two leading candidates. The decision on this hosting rights will also be announced in September. On the other hand, Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu, which underwent extensive renovation, has not hosted a final since 2010. This is likely due to long-standing tensions between club president Florentino Perez and UEFA over the proposed Super League project. In such circumstances, the Metropolitano Stadium, home to Real Madrid’s rivals Atletico Madrid, has proven to be a more acceptable alternative for UEFA. Several well-known stadiums have fallen out of the running. Milan’s San Siro is considered outdated and awaits replacement with a new facility. The ancient Olympic stadiums in Rome, Athens, and Istanbul, although historically significant, are no longer deemed suitable due to their lack of modern facilities and the presence of athletics tracks. These factors have led to their exclusion from consideration. Beyond the physical aspects of the stadium, UEFA also takes into account additional, albeit less defined, criteria such as urban infrastructure, proximity to airports, hotel availability, and the number of VIP lounges. As a result, stadiums like Old Trafford in Manchester, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the Velodrome in Marseille, the National Stadium in Baku, La Cartuja in Seville, and Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund are not considered ideal candidates. Despite these exclusions, German newspaper Sport Bild reports that Dortmund plans to highlight its candidacy for hosting the 2029 final. When all factors are considered, the list of stadiums fully meeting UEFA’s stringent requirements is quite limited. Among the confirmed candidates are the Allianz Arena, Wembley, Metropolitano, and the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, which will host the 2026 final. In the tightest circle of contenders are the Stade de France in Paris, which will host the 2022 final, and Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, set to host the 2020 final. The Berlin Olympic Stadium, which hosted the 2015 final, is also under consideration, though its athletics track reduces its chances.