The Camp Nou will host the Champions final in 2029
The last final of the European competition at the blue-and-red stadium took place in 1999
BarcelonaThree decades later, the Camp Nou will once again host a Champions League final. UEFA has decided that the final of the top men's European competition will be played at the azulgrana stadium in 2029. The decision was made by the UEFA executive committee, which met this Tuesday in Thessaloniki (Greece). Along with the choice of the culer temple, the organization has also chosen the Munich Football Arena (Allianz Arena, Bayern's home ground) for the 2028 Champions League final. Regarding the women's Champions League, the final will be held in 2028 at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, in Lyon, and in 2029 at the National Stadium of Wales, in Cardiff.
The 2029 Champions League final will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the last final of the top European competition played at the Camp Nou, which took place on May 26, 1999, between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, and which was won by the English side with a historic comeback in stoppage time (2-1). On that occasion, Barça requested to host the final as part of the club's centenary celebrations. This time, it will be to commemorate the renovation of a stadium that, if everything goes as planned, will be finished in 2028.
"The selection is an immense pride for Barça and for all 'barcelonistas'", said Joan Laporta in statements to the club's official channels. The president qualifies it as an "international recognition" of a "world-class reference stadium, at the forefront of experience, technology, connectivity, accessibility, and services", in addition to highlighting that the Camp Nou also consolidates itself as an "icon of Barcelona".
In his speech, Laporta also thanked the Barcelona City Council, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Spanish Football Federation, which have been the travel companions of the 'blaugrana' team in this winning bid. "It is a milestone that we have achieved together and that projects Barcelona, Catalonia, and Barça to the world".
Ceding the stadium for the 2029 final does not entail any economic compensation for Barça. "Rather, it costs us money", they admit at the offices. But it is a long-term investment that the club recovers thanks to the projection of the Camp Nou. "It is a matter of prestige", they justify at the club.
A key week for the Camp Nou
The UEFA decision comes in akey week for the future of the Camp Nou renovation, since on Saturday, at the assembly, the delegate members must give the green light to a new capital injection through an increase in financing. Money that is key to covering the entirety of works in which the budget has soared above the 990 million guaranteed maximum price that had been agreed upon with the construction company Limak.
Apart from the selection of the next editions of the Champions League, UEFA has also confirmed the venue for the Europa League finals, which will be played in Lyon (2028) and Cardiff (2029). The Conference League will be in Turin (28) and Budapest (29), and the European Super Cup in Amsterdam (27) and Astana (28).