All you need to know about the Champions League final

May 7, 2026 No Comments

All you need to know about the Champions League finalByKatharine SharpeBBC Sport senior journalistPublished1 hour agoArsenal and Paris St-Germain have verified their places in the 2026 Champions League final, with victories over Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively.The showpiece between the Premier League leaders and Champions League holders will take place on Saturday, 30 May at Budapest’s Puskas Arena, kicking off at 17:00 BST.Uefa reported the decision to switch from the 20:00 kick-off seen in previous years is to “enhance the matchday experience and benefit fans, teams and host cities”.

It’s Arsenal’s first Champions League final in 20 years, while current holders PSG will attempt to defend their 2025 title.

Here is everything you need to know about the match.

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How can you get tickets?

Dale Johnson

Football issues correspondent

The Champions League final might be 24 days away but there is no time to waste in getting tickets.

In fact, Arsenal fans with first priority will be able to buy theirs starting at 13:00 on Thursday.

With only 16,824 tickets available, a lot of Arsenal season-ticket holders are going to be left disappointed. This is why first dibs go to those who have attended enough qualifying home and away games. Only these fans are guaranteed a ticket.

The Gunners have then set up a second eligibility window for season-ticket holders, who must enter a ballot and hope for the best – all depending on how many tickets went in that first sale.

Then there are the prices. Tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis so you will have to be quick to land the 70 euro (£61) tickets. Prices then go up to 180 euros (£156), 650 euros (£562) and 950 euros (£821), with a few in a reduced band for restricted view.

But what of the other tickets? About 4,600 are available for the general public. That leaves 21,400 – a third of the stadium – for the local organising structure, Uefa’s member national associations, commercial partners, broadcasters and the wider “Uefa football family”.

Where is the match being played?

Interior view of Budapest's Puskas Arena — Image caption,

It will be the first time the Puskas Arena has hosted a Champions League final

The 67,000-capacity Puskas Arena, situated in the east of Budapest, is home to the Hungary national team.

It is named after legendary captain Ferenc Puskas, who has also has Fifa’s award for best goal of the year dedicated to him.

Stadiums for major European finals are selected by Uefa, with football associations and stadiums able to bid for their chance to host.

The Puskas Arena has previously hosted Champions League matches as well as the 2023 Europa League final.

What do the stats say?

Prudent Nsengiyumva

BBC Sport journalist

Arsenal’s Champions League run has been built on control rather than fireworks – and the numbers tell the story: one of Europe’s most potent attacks backed by the competition’s meanest defence.

Their 29 goals put them among the top scorers, but it’s the six conceded – the best record in the competition – that defines them.

It suggests a side that absorbs pressure, applies it when needed, and rarely loses their grip. Arsenal reached the final with nine clean sheets, more than any other side.

Despite a Premier League reputation for set-piece efficiency, Mikel Arteta’s side have produced only five set-piece goals in the Champions League.

It’s a shift that accentuates how adaptable the Gunners have become, shaping their threats to suit the rhythm of continental football.

In possession, Arsenal have maintained a clear attacking identity. Their goals are spread across phases of play, with the majority coming from open play.

Just as important is their record of 11 wins, which speaks to their control of key moments across the campaign, and they remain the only unbeaten team left in the competition.

Whether they stick with that blueprint or twist against PSG in the final on 30 May, as they chase the first European crown in club history, is a key question for Arteta to ponder.

How could tactics make an impact?

Umir Irfan

Football tactics correspondent

The final will be a repeat of last season’s semi-final, which PSG won 3-1 on aggregate.

In the first leg last season, Mikel Arteta indirectly admitted to getting his pressing shape wrong. In the first 20 minutes, Arsenal’s 4-4-2 shape was exposed by PSG’s rotations.

Ousmane Dembele dropped into midfield and alongside the midfield three helped PSG outnumber Arsenal in the centre of the pitch. It was during this period that PSG scored the opener at Emirates Stadium, giving them a lead to defend.

Arteta will go into the final being aware of the positional freedom Luis Enrique affords Dembele, and provisionally may opt for the defensive tweak that worked well last season – a 4-2-3-1 shape with Odegaard deeper to support his midfield.

Despite leaning into fast attacks more often this season, Arsenal have found their most joy dominating the ball high up the pitch. Atletico sat back for large parts of their semi-final bout against Arteta’s side, but had their best spells pressing Arsenal high and early.

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Similarly, PSG will look to disrupt Arsenal’s possessional dominance by pressing high, likely in a man-to-man fashion. The intensity from players like Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue up top will look to force Arsenal into early turnovers and big chances of their own, or long balls, betting on the likes of Marquinhos and Willian Pacho to win aerial duels.

With aerially-dominant Mikel Merino out and Kai Havertz returning to full fitness, if it is Gyokeres set to battle with the PSG defenders, making the ball stick might be a tougher ask for Arsenal.

Against Bayern, PSG often defended in a man-to-man fashion. If this happens against Arsenal, the Gunners may look for runners in behind after pulling central defenders deeper through attacking movements of their own.

Alternatively, PSG may set up to defend deeper if Arsenal are able to dominate the ball like they did last season.

In those games, Gianluigi Donnarumma was in goal, and his individual brilliance saved PSG on a number of occasions. With Matvey Safonov in goal for PSG this season, defending deep suddenly becomes a riskier option.

This article is the newest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team.