A CHANCE IN A MILLION?

Baku is one of the candidates to hold the final game of the Champions League of the 2026/2027 season. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will reach a definitive conclusion regarding the feasibility of holding the match in the capital of Azerbaijan during the May-June 2025 period. 

The issue with San Siro

It is widely known that UEFA has revoked Milan's San Siro stadium's eligibility to host the Champions League final, despite the initial decision to hold this highly anticipated event at this football field. At one time, the Italian government provided assurances regarding the high level of organization that would be afforded to the continent's most prestigious club tournament. However, the Italians subsequently indicated their intention to decline the opportunity, citing concerns that the reconstruction plans for the city might impact the San Siro stadium and its surrounding area. The issue arises from the necessity to rebuild the stadium, which is scheduled to host the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in February 2026. Furthermore, media reports indicate that the Mayor of Milan is experiencing challenges in securing financial resources for the development of the city's infrastructure. Consequently, UEFA has resolved to reopen the bidding process for hosting the Champions League final in the 2026/2027 season.

Baku vs Madrid

The cities of Baku and Madrid have applied to host the final match in 2027. One of the cities under consideration is Madrid. The intention of the Spanish contingent is to provide the recently renovated Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium, with a capacity of 70,460, for the event. The stadium serves as the home arena for Club Atlético, hosted the World Cup final in 2019, and has received positive reviews from UEFA. Madrid's main rival is Baku. The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) nominated its capital city and offered to host the final at the Baku Olympic Stadium. It is noteworthy that this marks AFFA's second attempt to host the prestigious final. In 2019, the association had already submitted the requisite documentation to UEFA in anticipation of such an eventuality. Subsequently, the international football organization ruled in favor of the Spanish team. Concurrently, UEFA permitted Baku to host the 2019 Europa League final, which Azerbaijan organised to a commendable standard.

Strict rules

The UEFA Champions League is one of the most popular football competitions and, as such, is subject to a number of strict rules pertaining to the final. The tournament lasts for a period of nine months and ultimately concludes with a final match. The host city transforms into a hub of football activity for a 10-day period. Notable footballers and celebrities from across the globe attend these matches. It is estimated that tens of thousands of tourists travel to the tournament venue solely to attend the final game in person. The match is broadcast live on more than 200 television channels worldwide, with an estimated 1 billion viewers. 

One of the prerequisites for hosting the Champions League final is the availability of a high-quality arena in the city. The Baku Olympic Stadium has been demonstrated to meet all requisite parameters and has already hosted the European Games, the Europa League final, as well as four games of Euro 2020. It is widely acknowledged that the Azerbaijani side has considerable experience in hosting high-profile sporting events, including the Champions League final. 

However, UEFA has typically sought to hold the final in a city situated centrally in Europe. Geographically, it would be relatively straightforward for fans to reach this city from any other location in the shortest possible time. It is also important to consider the various modes of transportation that fans may utilize to attend the final matches. In addition to planes, trains, yachts, and private cars may also be employed. In this respect, Madrid holds a slight advantage. During the 2019 Europa League finals and Euro 2020 games, some foreign fans expressed discontent with Baku's distance from central Europe. UEFA also stipulates that there must be at least one major international airport in the candidate city, which must be fully prepared to accommodate an influx of charter flights on the day of the final. In this regard, Heydar Aliyev International Airport also meets requisite standards. Furthermore, the prestigious COP29 summit being held in Baku serves to illustrate this point.

Additionally, hosting the final match necessitates a considerable number of economical accommodation options, specifically 2- and 3-star hotels, within the candidate city. Moreover, sufficient security measures for the venue must be adequately addressed. These factors, along with others, contribute to Baku's prospects of hosting the Champions League final. However, the city's geographical remoteness from most European cities may present a challenge. 

We will need to wait till the next spring. Applications to hold the Champions League games in 2027 will be accepted up until March 19, 2025. UEFA will announce its final decision on hosting the 2027 Champions League games in May or June.