The biggest club prizes in European football—the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and Women’s Champions League—need the biggest stages. UEFA has received a slew of bids from top-tier venues across the continent, all competing fiercely to host the prestigious finals in 2028 and 2029.
Here is a breakdown of the candidate venues currently in the running for these massive events, with an integrated assessment of their key strengths and logistical challenges.
📅 The 2028 Final Bids: European Football’s Showcase
The lineup for 2028 features a mix of historic venues and burgeoning football capitals, promising drama across all four competitions.
2028 UEFA Champions League Final (UCL)
Only one stadium is competing to host the biggest game in club football: the Fußball Arena München in Germany. This is a choice of Proven, Low-Risk Excellence. Munich offers world-class infrastructure, efficient public transport, and extensive high-end accommodation. The stadium is modern, easily accessible, and has experience hosting the final (2012), making this a highly reliable and low-risk choice for UEFA.
2028 UEFA Europa League Final (UEL)
The race for the UEL final is wide open, with five major bids:
- France: Either the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon or the Parc des Princes in Paris are on the table. Lyon successfully hosted the 2018 UEL final, while Paris’s historic venue has a rich history of European Cup matches.
- Italy: The Juventus Stadium in Turin, a sleek club-owned ground, is a Premium, but Smaller Scale option. It offers a modern, high-quality match day experience, but its lower capacity makes it potentially better suited for the UECL. Turin itself is logistically sound and well-connected.
- Romania: Bucharest’s National Arena is aiming for a return. It is an Experienced East European Host that successfully staged the 2012 final and offers an enthusiastic football atmosphere. While the venue is solid, infrastructure might face tighter pressure compared to Western European giants.
- Serbia: Belgrade is bidding with its proposed National Stadium. This represents a High-Potential Emerging Market opportunity for UEFA to grow the brand in Southeast Europe. The primary risk is the project delivery of the new stadium and the accompanying infrastructure needed for a top-tier final.
2028 UEFA Conference League Final (UECL)
This final has become a highly sought-after event, attracting bids from five countries:
- Hungary: The impressive Puskás Aréna in Budapest—a Modern Central European Hub—is competing again. The stadium is new, centrally located, and highly praised (hosting the 2023 UEL Final). The city is cost-effective and easy to navigate for fans, giving this bid high accessibility marks.
- France: The Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille is a Strong Regional Option. Easily accessible from multiple neighbouring countries (Belgium, UK), the stadium is multi-functional and modern, providing a good, mid-sized option for the UECL final.
- Italy: The Juventus Stadium in Turin is double-bidding, offering the same Premium, but Smaller Scale qualities noted above.
- Kazakhstan: Bids from the Astana Arena or Almaty Stadium would bring a final to Kazakhstan. While this aligns with UEFA’s goal of Geographic Expansion, the significant drawback is the extreme travel time and cost for most European fans, representing a major Logistical Hurdle.
- Poland: The Arena Gdańsk, which hosted the 2021 UEL final, is bidding to bring European glory back to the Baltic coast.
2028 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final (UWCL)
The UWCL continues to find exciting, modern venues:
- Spain: The San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao, home of Athletic Bilbao, is a strong candidate and is a High-Quality, Dedicated Atmosphere venue. Bilbao is a vibrant, culture-rich city and the stadium itself offers superb atmosphere and robust city support.
- France: The Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines is vying for a chance to host this prestigious women’s match.
- Switzerland: St. Jakob Park in Basel is a Compact and Efficient option. Basel is a compact, well-managed city with a history of hosting major European events (UEL 2016), making it a reliable, if smaller, choice for the UWCL.
- Türkiye: The Ali Sami Yen Stadium in Istanbul is bidding to host its first UEFA club final.
🌟 The 2029 Final Bids: Iconic Venues and Big Returns
The 2029 line-up features some truly legendary names in European football, particularly for the biggest prize.
2029 UEFA Champions League Final (UCL)
This is a classic showdown between two giants:
- England: Wembley Stadium in London is vying to be The Global Showcase. With its unparalleled history (hosting the 2024 final), London provides immense logistical experience, global accessibility, and unrivalled capacity, making Wembley the safe, high-profile bet for maximum revenue and prestige.
- Spain: Camp Nou in Barcelona aims for an Iconic Return (Post-Renovation). Barcelona is a major tourist city with huge appeal, but the success of this bid hinges entirely on the completion and quality of the massive stadium renovation. If delivered on time, it offers an iconic atmosphere but carries significant risk tied to the construction timeline.
2029 UEFA Europa League Final (UEL)
The majority of UEL bids are rolling over from 2028, showcasing continued interest from those hosts. The assessment for the venues remains the same:
- The same candidates from France (Parc Olympique Lyonnais & Parc des Princes), Italy (Juventus Stadium), Romania (National Arena), and Serbia (National Stadium) are still competing.
- Türkiye joins the race with a bid for the New Ankara Stadium, a large-capacity venue currently under construction.
2029 UEFA Conference League Final (UECL)
The field remains robust for the UECL, with all candidates carrying the same assessments as the 2028 cycle:
- The bids from France (Lille), Hungary (Budapest), Italy (Turin), Kazakhstan (Astana/Almaty), and Poland (Gdańsk) are carrying over from the 2028 race.
- Finland enters the running with the fully renovated Helsinki Olympic Stadium, a historic venue hoping to stage its first UEFA club final.
2029 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final (UWCL)
Three major stadia are looking for their first UWCL hosting duty:
- Republic of Ireland: The Dublin Arena previously hosted the 2011 UEL Final. Dublin is an Enthusiastic and Accessible host, popular and welcoming, offering a great fan experience with a centrally located venue.
- Wales: The National Stadium of Wales in Cardiff, which hosted the 2017 UCL Final, is now targeting the UWCL. Its unique benefit is a Retractable Roof option, offering security and ensuring the event proceeds smoothly regardless of weather.
- France (Parc Olympique Lyonnais) and Switzerland (St. Jakob Park – Compact and Efficient) are also maintaining their bids from the 2028 cycle.
As UEFA prepares to decide which cities will host Europe’s biggest club finals, fans around the continent can start dreaming of their next great football trip. From Munich’s proven pedigree to the allure of a renovated Camp Nou, or the emerging energy of Belgrade and Budapest, the next wave of host cities will define the destinations every football traveller wants to visit. Wherever UEFA’s decisions land, the stage is set for unforgettable finals across Europe in 2028 and 2029.
Last Updated on November 4, 2025 by Sports Tourist
