UEFA Reopens Bidding For 2027 Champions League Final After Milan Stripped Of Hosting Rights.
UEFA has reopened the bidding process for the 2027 Champions League final after the decision was made to remove Milan as the host city. The iconic San Siro stadium was originally slated to host the prestigious final, but UEFA opted to withdraw its selection after Milan officials failed to guarantee that redevelopment work at the venue would not interfere with the event.
AC Milan and Inter Milan, the two football clubs that share the San Siro, are currently considering plans to build a new stadium in the same area. However, uncertainty surrounding the redevelopment has led UEFA to seek an alternative location for the 2027 final.
The new host stadium is expected to be announced in May or June 2025, following the reopening of the bidding process. This decision was made during a meeting of the UEFA Executive Committee on Tuesday, where other significant changes were also discussed.
In addition to the Champions League final venue change, UEFA announced adjustments to its solidarity funding. The ‘big five’ European leagues—comprising the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and Bundesliga—agreed to cap their solidarity payments at €10 million (£8.3 million) per season up to and including the 2026-27 cycle. This marks an increase of €1.5 million on the previous cycle.
A total of €308 million (£256.3 million) will now be distributed to clubs not participating in European competitions, a significant rise from the €177.2 million (£147.4 million) available in the previous cycle. UEFA stated, “Such funds are meant to support competitive balance across Europe’s top division leagues, where some clubs benefit from additional revenue streams due to European competition participation.”
Tuesday’s meeting also saw the approval of UEFA’s women’s football strategy for 2024 to 2030, though specific details of the strategy have yet to be released.
As UEFA looks ahead to finding a new host for the 2027 Champions League final, clubs and cities across Europe will be vying for the honour of staging one of football’s most coveted events.
