Munich bids for 2028 Champions League Final – Allianz Arena discussed as potential venue

The specific match venue remains open. While the 2025 final took place at the storied Munich Olympic Stadium, there is also discussion about whether future finals could be held at the Allianz Arena, which as FC Bayern's modern home regularly hosts international matches. The city administration has so far not committed to either venue. The Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid, which is also being discussed as a potential final venue, shows that competition for hosting rights to Europe's top events is intense.

Allianz Arena or Olympic Stadium: No decision yet

With the bid for the 2028 final, Munich is – according to Krause – also explicitly pursuing broader sports-policy goals. Hosting another major European event is intended to provide important impetus for a possible international bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. In doing so, the city is picking up on earlier Olympic considerations and placing the prestigious club competition in the larger context of its sports-city strategy.

The Champions League has recently developed into one of the highest-revenue and most-watched competitions in world football. Finals regularly generate a worldwide audience in the millions and are a significant economic and tourism factor for host cities. Munich can point to experience in this regard from the 2025 final, which – according to the city – ran smoothly and attracted international attention.

Link to a possible Olympic bid

Alongside Munich, other European metropolises have also signaled interest in hosting the match. Which cities will officially bid and according to which criteria the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) will make the decision are not yet fully known. What is clear is that factors such as stadium infrastructure, accommodation capacity, security concepts, and travel connections will play a central role.

FC Bayern Munich is one of Europe's top clubs and has been represented in the premier European competition's finals repeatedly in recent years. The prospect of being able to host another possible "Finale dahoam" is likely to be of great interest to the German record champion as well, especially since the club has a venue in the Allianz Arena that could meet modern final conditions. However, no concrete statements from the club's leadership had been available as of the latest.

Open questions on the bid and the awarding process

The discussion is also being closely watched from a sports-policy perspective, as a successful Olympic bid by Munich depends significantly on demonstrating international competitiveness. Hosting a Champions League final is regarded in this regard as a visible signal. Krause emphasized that Munich wants to present itself as cosmopolitan, sports-enthusiastic, and high-performing – attributes that would be equally important for a bid for the Olympic Games.

No date has yet been announced for the official submission of the bid to UEFA. As a rule, several years pass between the announcement and the final, during which the city must undertake extensive logistical and organizational preparations. Should Munich receive the nod, 2028 would be – after 2025 – the second Champions League final in three years in the Bavarian state capital – a first in the history of the competition.