Hungary's Puskás Arena has been selected to host the 2026 UEFA Champions League final. The decision underlines the growing role of this state-of-the-art venue on the map of European football, as it is the next major event to feature Hungary's largest stadium.

Pride of Hungary

Puskás Arena, opening in 2019, is a modern stadium located in Budapest. Built on the site of the former Népstadion, the stadium combines modernity with historical elements. It has a capacity of 67,215 seats and covers an area of 210,000 m². The stadium is designed to host a variety of sporting and cultural events, including concerts and mass events.

The stadium is named after Ferenc Puskás, one of the greatest footballers in history. Puskás Arena is equipped with advanced infrastructure, including a museum dedicated to Hungarian football and modern technical facilities. As a result, it is able to meet the highest UEFA standards for hosting matches that the whole world looks up to.

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Another recognition

The decision to choose Puskás Arena for the 2026 Champions League final is the result of positive experiences from previous major sporting events. The stadium has already hosted the 2023 Europa League final and Euro 2020 matches, proving its ability to host events of the highest prestige.

UEFA took into account both the logistical aspects and the importance of the stadium in the region. Hungary has a strong football tradition and Budapest is well connected to the rest of Europe, which will make it easier for fans to travel to the finals.

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Future Champions League finals

The choice of Puskás Arena is part of UEFA's strategy to hold Champions League finals in the most modern stadiums in Europe. This year, the final will be held at Wembley in London and in 2025 at Allianz Arena in Munich.

Which stadium could be next? UEFA chooses stadiums for the Champions League final based on several key criteria. First and foremost, the stadium must meet the highest infrastructure standards, offering a capacity of at least 60,000 fans to accommodate a large number of fans and delegations. It is also important that the venue has state-of-the-art technical facilities, including advanced security systems, accessibility for the disabled and adequate facilities for the media and VIPs. The location of the stadium also plays a significant role - cities with good transport infrastructure are preferred, providing easy access from airports and hotels.

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