Barcelona's Nou Camp Chosen Over Wembley for 2029 Champions League Final
Barcelona to Host 2029 Champions League Final Instead of Wembley
Uefa has selected the renovated Nou Camp in Barcelona as the venue for the 2029 Champions League final, sidelining Wembley Stadium in London. The announcement came on Tuesday, marking a significant event for Spain just a year before it co-hosts the 2030 World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco.
The choice favors Barcelona's stadium despite ongoing reconstruction work, which includes unfinished upper tiers and roof sections. The Nou Camp can hold 105,000 fans once complete and last hosted the Champions League final in 1999, when Manchester United famously scored twice during stoppage time to beat Bayern Munich.
Other Hosting Decisions
Uefa's executive committee also confirmed that the 2028 Champions League final will be at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena. This stadium was the only applicant and recently held the final in 2025.
Wembley has been a frequent host, staging the final eight times since the European Cup began over 70 years ago, including 2011, 2013, and 2024. Meanwhile, this season's final is set for Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano stadium.
Wembley Misses Out on 2029 World Athletics Championships
The same day, it was confirmed that London will not host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. Competing against Nairobi, Munich, and Rome, the Kenyan capital won the bid, becoming the first African city to stage the event.
"The interest in hosting our world championships has frankly never been higher," said World Athletics president Seb Coe. He praised the bids from all cities but highlighted Nairobi's strong and emotional proposal.
He described Nairobi as "a fast-growing, dynamic, modern metropolis" that acts as the economic, cultural, and political center of East Africa. Kenya’s rich athletics heritage includes stars like Faith Kipyegon, Vivian Cheruiyot, Eliud Kipchoge, Hellen Obiri, David Rudisha, Kip Keino, Paul Tergat, and Tegla Loroupe.
"It was important that the World Athletics Championships should come to Africa when we had the right host, the right bid and the right circumstances," Coe added. Nairobi aims to inspire a continent and create a lasting legacy through the event.
