UEFA Champions League: the final will never be the same again!

UEFA has officially announced a major change for the 2025/2026 Champions League final. Usually scheduled for 9 p.m., the most anticipated fixture in European football will now be played earlier in the evening—a first in the modern era of the competition.

A new kick-off time for the fans

The final, set for Budapest, will now kick off at 6 p.m. This decision, fully embraced by the European governing body, aims to enhance the experience for fans attending the match, giving them more time to enjoy the event after the final whistle.

As we await this showpiece, the competition remains wide open with blockbuster quarter-finals: Sporting CP vs Arsenal, Real Madrid vs Bayern München, FC Barcelona vs Atlético de Madrid, and Paris vs Liverpool.

See also: Champions League—UEFA sets the dates for the semi-finals! (Official)

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.

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