The Camp Nou will host the Champions final in 2029
The last final of the European competition at the blue and garnet 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 held at the Blaugrana stadium in 2029. The decision was made by the UEFA executive committee, meeting this Tuesday in Thessaloniki (Greece). Along with the selection 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 played 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 team with a historic comeback in stoppage time (2-1). On that occasion, Barça asked to host the final as part of the club's centenary celebrations. This time, it will be to commemorate the remodeling of a stadium that, if everything goes as planned, will be finished in 2028.
"The choice is an immense pride for Barça and for all barcelonistas", said Joan Laporta in statements to the club's official channels. The president describes it as an "international recognition" for a "world-class stadium, at the forefront of experience, technology, connectivity, accessibility, and services", in addition to highlighting that the Camp Nou is also consolidating 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, who have been the traveling companions of the blue and red team in this winning candidacy. "It is a milestone that we have achieved together and that projects Barcelona, Catalonia, and Barça to the world", he said.
Giving up the stadium for the 2029 final does not mean any economic benefit 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 arrives in a key week for the future of the Camp Nou remodeling, as on Saturday, at the assembly, the delegate members must give the green light to a new capital injection through an expansion of 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 upcoming editions of the Champions League, UEFA has also confirmed the host cities 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).