UEFA make big announcement on Champions League final just hours before draw

UEFA have confirmed that the Champions League final will kick-off three hours earlier than usual this season when all eyes will be on the Puskas Arena in Budapest.

The Champions League final has usually began at 9pm CET - which is 8pm in the UK. But it will now kick-off at 6pm CET - meaning British viewers will see a 5pm start. It marks a major change from UEFA with the vast majority of their matches, from the group stages all the way through to the final, beginning at 8pm.

The only matches to experience earlier kick-off times are those taking place in eastern Europe, matches in places like Russia. The change to the final is the biggest tweak to the competition since they changed the day of the final from a Wednesday to a Saturday back in 2010.

UEFA explained their decision as they said: "The decision is designed to enhance the overall matchday experience for fans, teams and host cities by optimising matchday logistics and operations, while delivering several tangible benefits.

"Our goal is to make match day a truly enjoyable experience for everyone who wants to be part of the excitement, while creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for families and children to attend the biggest and most important club football match of the season."

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They also underlined how the earlier kick-off time would make logistics for fans much easier after the final. Generally both sets of supporters are visiting a new stadium, a new city and are often in a new country. UEFA also claimed that host cities can enjoy greater economic benefits.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin said: "With this change, we are placing the fans' experience at the heart of our planning. The UEFA Champions League final is the highlight of the football season, and the new kick-off time will make it even more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for everyone involved."

The Puskas Arena will host its first Champions League final having only been built in 2019. The stadium in Budapest can hold 67,155 fans and was previously one of the venues used in the pan-European Euro 2020. This season will mark the first time ever that Hungary will host the Champions League final.

It was the scene of the Europa League final in 2022, which was won on penalties by Sevilla against Jose Mourinho's Roma. The stadium bears the name of the great Hungarian forward Puskas, who won the European Cup on three occasions with Real Madrid, and is the only man to score a hat-trick in two finals

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