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The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has stripped Milan's iconic stadium San Siro of 2027 Champions League final hosting rights. UEFA has re-opened the bidding process to stage the 2027 Champions League final. The San Siro is the home ground of AC Milan and Inter Milan, last staged the Champions League final in 2016 when Real Madrid defeated Atlético Madrid following a penalty shoot-out. UEFA announced Milan as the 2027 host city in May this year at the same time as confirming the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, as the venue for the 2026 Champions League final.
What Happened?
The Milan stadium, which last hosted a Champions League final in 2016 was scheduled to host another final in 2027, however according to ESPN the UEFA has re-opened the bidding process after stripping the Italian venue of hosting rights. UEFA has designated San Siro as the host for the 2027 final, contingent on the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) proposing a multi-million-pound renovation of the historic stadium. However, the future of San Siro is uncertain, with AC Milan and Inter Milan considering a move to a new venue. If funding for the renovation cannot be secured, the stadium may face demolition.
A UEFA statement said, "As the Municipality of Milano could not guarantee that the San Siro stadium and its surroundings would not be affected by refurbishment works in the period of the 2027 UEFA Champions League final, it was decided not to assign the final to Milan and to re-open the bidding process to appoint a suitable venue, with a decision expected in May/June 2025."
In the meantime, both Milan clubs are set to compete in Serie A this weekend, with AC Milan facing Lecce on Friday and reigning champions Inter taking on Udinese the following day.
About San Siro
San Siro has a storied history, hosting the European Cup final in 1965, where Inter Milan triumphed over Benfica 1-0. The stadium has also seen Feyenoord and Bayern Munich win the prestigious trophy in 1970 and 2001, respectively. Opened in 1926, the future of San Siro has been in question for some time, as both AC Milan and Inter have rejected previous renovation proposals. Inter is reportedly favoring a completely new stadium on the same site, while AC Milan is looking at a location in San Donato for their new home. Despite the uncertainty, San Siro will remain operational at least until 2026, as it will host the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games.
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