The 2027 Champions League final had been scheduled to be held in Milan, but UEFA have decided to go in a different direction
The San Siro stadium will no longer host the 2027 Champions League final(Image credit: Getty Images)
UEFA have stripped the San Siro stadium has been stripped of its hosting duties for the 2027 Champions League final and will now be looking for a new host.
There could now be a bidding war for the right to take over from the iconic Italian stadium, which is home to both Milan and Inter.
European football's governing body confirmed the decision on Tuesday after it became clear that the stadium is not guaranteed to be up to the required standard in three years' time.
Why San Siro has lost 2027 Champions League final
The San Siro has hosted some huge Champions League clashes (Image credit: Getty Images)
One of Europe's largest and most legendary grounds, San Siro - or Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, as it is formally known - has hosted four prior European Cup and Champions League on four prior occasions, most recently in 2016.
However, the 80,000-capacity stadium has been showing its age for years, leading its two tenants to look at moving away from the stadium, while others have put forth proposals to redevelop the existing ground.
Marseille's Stade Velodrome is one potential alternative venue for the 2027 Champions League final (Image credit: Alamy)
The uncertainty around the stadium's future have led UEFA to conclude that the city cannot guarantee that key infrastructural elements will be in place come 2027, and that the best thing is to look for an alternative venue that can offer more certainty.
A UEFA statement said: “[The] municipality of Milano could not guarantee that the San Siro stadium and its surroundings would not be affected by refurbishment works.
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“It was decided not to assign the final to Milan and to re-open the bidding process to appoint a suitable venue, with a decision expected in May/June 2025.”
Marseille has already thrown its hat into the ring for consideration, with deputy mayor Sebatian Jibrayel tweeting: "And why not Marseille, in the most beautiful stadium in France: The Velodrome. With the Mayor @BenoitPayan, we will support Marseille's bid to host the Champions League final in 2027."
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Steven Chicken has been working as a football writer since 2009, taking in stints with Football365 and the Huddersfield Examiner. Steven still covers Huddersfield Town home and away for his own publication, WeAreTerriers.com. Steven is a two-time nominee for Regional Journalist of the Year at the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards, making the shortlist in 2020 and 2023.
