Stadiums that have never hosted a Champions League final – but should

Barcelona's Camp Nou only recently found out it will stage the 2029 Champions League final, with UEFA confirming the decision at its Executive Committee meeting in Thessaloniki. The reasoning behind why the Catalan ground beat Wembley to the bid also offers an insight into what UEFA looks for when choosing a venue for the biggest game in club football.

UEFA has demanding requirements for final hosts, covering areas such as stadium infrastructure, pitch specifications, floodlighting, spectator facilities and capacity. Recent Champions League finals have generally been staged at venues with capacities around 70,000 or more, although that is not a fixed UEFA minimum and smaller stadiums have also been selected.

Some well-known grounds fall short of the criteria associated with recent final venues, while others have missed out despite meeting many of the requirements. There are also stadiums that tick almost every box but simply have not had the chance to host the final yet.

With that in mind, and having already looked at some of the most iconic venues to have hosted the Champions League final over the years, we have taken a closer look at the requirements and seven stadiums that could make good hosts in the future.

Why have so many notable stadiums never hosted the Champions League final?

Capacity is an important consideration for many stadiums, with the size of recent Champions League final venues ruling out a number of grounds that otherwise have the facilities and atmosphere needed to host a final.

That is particularly relevant to stadiums with large standing sections, as their capacity can fall considerably when standing areas are converted to seating for UEFA fixtures. 

Signal Iduna Park is the clearest example, with Borussia Dortmund's famous Yellow Wall accommodating around 25,000 supporters in its usual standing configuration, while the stadium's international capacity is around 66,000.

Redevelopment plans have also affected some bids. San Siro, for example, lost the right to host the 2027 final after UEFA could not obtain sufficient assurances over refurbishment work around the ground, forcing the governing body to reopen the bidding process.

Geography can also be a consideration when a city already has an established final venue. That could make it harder for another stadium in the same city to secure the same opportunity, which could be a factor for both Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and the Emirates, given Wembley's established position as London's main venue for major football finals.

Seven stadiums that have never hosted a Champions League final but should

Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund

The Signal Iduna Park is Germany's largest stadium and it holds around 81,000 fans in its usual domestic configuration, though it drops to roughly 66,000 for international fixtures when its standing areas are converted to seating.

It hosted the 2001 UEFA Cup final and remains one of the most atmospheric grounds in world football, while its size and previous experience of staging a major UEFA final make it a natural venue to consider for the Champions League showpiece.

Stade Velodrome, Marseille

At more than 67,000 seats, the Stade Velodrome is already close to the capacity of several recent Champions League final venues. Marseille has also made its ambitions clear regarding a future final, with local officials discussing the possibility of bringing the Champions League showpiece back to the city in 2030 or 2031.

Marseille did not ultimately enter the 2027 bidding process, which was won by Madrid's Metropolitano, but the city's interest in securing a future final means the Velodrome remains a realistic venue to consider for a later edition.

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London

Opened in 2019, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has a retractable pitch and modern facilities designed to host football, NFL games, concerts and other major events. It has already staged NFL games and major concerts, demonstrating its ability to handle large-scale events.

Its capacity of just under 63,000 is the main obstacle, while sharing London with Wembley could also complicate its prospects. The quality and versatility of the stadium itself, though, would make it a strong candidate if UEFA's final-hosting criteria allowed for its current capacity.

Celtic Park, Glasgow

Celtic Park is Scotland's biggest ground and has built a strong Champions League reputation over the years, even though Glasgow's only Champions League final was held at Hampden Park in 2002.

Celtic Park holds just over 60,000, meaning an expansion would be needed to bring it closer to the capacity of many recent final venues. The club has explored improvements to the ground at various points, though, and further development could strengthen its case in the future.

Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville

A purpose-built multi-sport venue, Estadio de La Cartuja has already hosted a European final, staging the 2003 UEFA Cup showpiece, as well as Copa del Rey finals and Spain internationals.

Following its recent redevelopment, the stadium now has a capacity of around 70,000, putting it much closer to the size of recent Champions League final venues. La Cartuja also has extensive experience of hosting major sporting events, while its upgraded facilities and status as a venue for the 2030 World Cup could strengthen its case for a future Champions League final.

Emirates Stadium, London

The Emirates Stadium has held Category 4 status and has the facilities to host a major European final. Its capacity of just over 60,000 remains an obstacle, while sharing London with Wembley could also make a future bid more difficult.

The stadium has nevertheless hosted major European fixtures since opening in 2006, and its infrastructure and experience of staging high-profile matches would make it a natural venue to consider if its capacity were less of an issue for a future final.

Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples

The most ambitious option on this list, Stadio Diego Armando Maradona has a current capacity of around 54,700, meaning it would need a substantial increase to reach the roughly 70,000 capacity associated with many recent Champions League final venues.

Renamed after Diego Maradona following his death in 2020, the stadium sits in one of Europe's most passionate football cities. Italy has not hosted a Champions League final since San Siro in 2016, so a suitably redeveloped Maradona could give Naples the chance to stage the competition's biggest match, provided the necessary infrastructure and capacity requirements could be met.