Wembley’s bid to host either the 2028 or 2029 Champions League final has been rejected in favour of both the Allianz Arena and the Nou Camp.
UEFA hosted an executive committee meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece on Tuesday, in order to decide the hosts for European football’s most prestigious football match, among others.
London was hoping to host a fourth Champions League final in less than 20 years but UEFA bosses opted to snub the national stadium.
European football’s governing body has instead awarded the 2028 final to Bayern Munich‘s Allianz Arena, which hosted the match as recently as 2025, and Barcelona‘s newly renovated Nou Camp.
It will be the first time the Spanish ground, which will become Europe’s biggest stadium once the long-awaited refurbishment is complete, has hosted the final since Manchester United‘s famous stoppage-time comeback victory over Bayern.
Borussia Dortmund‘s Signal Iduna Park also put in a bid alongside Wembley but missed out.
Wembley has been snubbed by UEFA in its bid to host the Champions League final in 2028 or 2029
The national stadium last hosted the final in 2024 when Jude Bellingham’s real Madrid won a 15th title
The Nou Camp will host the final in 2029 for the first time since Manchester United’s miracle stoppage time comeback over Bayern Munich
Wembley last hosted the final in 2024, with Real Madrid lifting their 15th title following a 2-0 victory over Dortmund.
However, the final was shrouded in controversy after a Daily Mail Sport investigation showcased how ticketless fans were able to breach security to gain entry into the stadium. A reporter managed to gain entry without a ticket by handing a steward £100 in cash.
UEFA also decided the hosts of the Women’s Champions League finals, Europa League finals and the Conference League finals across the same two years.
The Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium have been selected as hosts for the 2028 and 2029 finals in the women’s game.
Meanwhile, Bucharest and Belgrade will play host to the Europa League finals in those years, while the Juventus Stadium and the Puskas Arena in Budapest, which hosted the latest Champions League final, have been selected as the venues for the Conference League showpieces.
During the meeting in Greece, UEFA bosses also discussed the format of the upcoming Nations League, which begins in the upcoming international break.
The committee approved adjustments to the promotion and relegation system, which will allow the competition to transition from four leagues down to three in the 2028-29 edition.
