Which stadium has hosted the most Champions League finals?

Hosting the Champions League final is a goal for the best stadiums in Europe, but some have enjoyed the privilege more than others.

When it comes to hosting the biggest events, few stadiums in European football can match the history of Wembley.

The London landmark has witnessed World Cup history, European Championship triumphs, FA Cup finals and some of the biggest nights in English football, but its connection with European club football is arguably even more remarkable.

Wembley has hosted more European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals than any other stadium, with the record standing at eight finals following the 2024 showpiece between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid.

Five of those finals were played at the original Wembley Stadium, while three have taken place at the rebuilt venue that opened in 2007.

Wembley Stadium: Eight European Cup and Champions League finals

The story began in 1963, just seven years before England would host and win the World Cup.

The original Wembley hosted its first European Cup final on 22 May 1963, when AC Milan defeated Benfica 2-1 in front of 45,715 spectators. Jose Altafini scored both goals for the Italian side after Eusebio had given Benfica the lead.

Five years later, Wembley provided the setting for one of Manchester United's most famous victories.

United defeated Benfica 4-1 after extra time in 1968, becoming the first English club to win the European Cup. George Best, Bobby Charlton and Brian Kidd all scored in extra time as Matt Busby's side completed an emotional triumph, less than a decade after the Munich air disaster had claimed the lives of eight United players.

Wembley hosted another final in 1971, when Ajax defeated Panathinaikos 2-0 to win the European Cup for the first time.

Liverpool then lifted the trophy at the stadium in 1978, beating Club Brugge 1-0 thanks to Kenny Dalglish's second-half goal.

The fifth and final European Cup final at the original Wembley came in 1992.

Barcelona defeated Sampdoria 1-0 after extra time, with Ronald Koeman's famous free-kick securing the Catalan club's first European Cup. The match also marked the end of an era, as the competition was renamed the UEFA Champions League the following season.

By then, however, Wembley was already approaching the end of its original life.

The old stadium was eventually demolished in 2003, with the famous twin towers replaced by the arch of the new 90,000-capacity Wembley.

The new Wembley continues the tradition

The rebuilt stadium did not have to wait long for its first Champions League final.

Wembley was selected to host the 2011 final, just four years after reopening. Barcelona returned to London and once again lifted the trophy, defeating Manchester United 3-1 in one of the defining matches of Pep Guardiola's great side.

The venue was then given another final only two years later.

The 2013 Champions League final saw Bayern Munich defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in an all-German contest. Arjen Robben scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute, giving Bayern their fifth European Cup.

That made Wembley the first stadium to host the competition's final twice within three years.

There was another wait before the stadium's eighth final. On 1 June 2024, Wembley hosted Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund. Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal scored as Real Madrid won 2-0 to claim a record-extending 15th European Cup.

The final also cemented Wembley's place at the top of the all-time list.

UEFA described the 2024 showpiece as Wembley's record eighth European Cup or Champions League final, while Guinness World Records recognises the venue as the record holder with eight finals.

Year	Final	Winner
1963	AC Milan 2-1 Benfica	AC Milan
1968	Manchester United 4-1 Benfica (aet)	Manchester United
1971	Ajax 2-0 Panathinaikos	Ajax
1978	Liverpool 1-0 Club Brugge	Liverpool
1992	Barcelona 1-0 Sampdoria (aet)	Barcelona
2011	Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United	Barcelona
2013	Bayern Munich 2-1 Borussia Dortmund	Bayern Munich
2024	Real Madrid 2-0 Borussia Dortmund	Real Madrid

Wembley's eight finals are spread across more than six decades, with the first coming in 1963 and the most recent in 2024.

The list also illustrates how the stadium has remained relevant despite effectively becoming two different venues. The original Wembley hosted five finals between 1963 and 1992, while the rebuilt stadium has hosted three since 2007.

Which stadiums come closest to Wembley?

Wembley's record becomes even more impressive when compared with the other great European football venues.

Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion has hosted four European Cup finals, while Munich's Olympiastadion also staged four.

The Stade de France in Paris has hosted two Champions League finals, while the Santiago Bernabeu, San Siro, Camp Nou and several other famous grounds have hosted multiple showpieces.

The Santiago Bernabeu has been selected for European Cup finals on five occasions when its history is considered across the competition, although UEFA's official records distinguish between the different generations and competition eras.

London itself has also developed an extraordinary relationship with the European Cup and Champions League. UEFA notes that the 2027 final at Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano will be Madrid's sixth final in total, with only London having hosted more.

Wembley, however, remains the individual stadium record holder.

Why has Wembley hosted so many finals?

Part of the answer is its importance to European football long before the Champions League era.

The original Wembley was already regarded as one of the world's great football venues when AC Milan and Benfica arrived in 1963. Its huge capacity, central location and status as the home of English football made it a natural choice for major international fixtures.

The rebuilt stadium retained those advantages.

With a capacity of 90,000, excellent transport links and its established reputation as one of football's most recognisable venues, Wembley remains one of UEFA's most prestigious options for a showpiece match.

FGG Says: Wembley has earned its place at the top

There are larger stadiums, newer stadiums and grounds with equally impressive club histories, but few can match Wembley's relationship with European football.

The eight finals have produced stories involving some of the game's greatest clubs and players, from Eusebio and Bobby Charlton in the 1960s to Ronald Koeman in 1992, Lionel Messi in 2011 and Vinicius Junior in 2024.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the record is its longevity. The original Wembley hosted its first European Cup final in 1963. More than 60 years later, the rebuilt stadium was still being chosen for the biggest match in European club football.

That makes Wembley more than the stadium that has hosted the most Champions League finals. It is one of the few football grounds where the history of European club football can be traced across generations.