On May 7th, the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust (AST) expressed clear dissatisfaction and disappointment with the UEFA's announced ticket allocation plan for the 2026 Champions League final. This Champions League final will be held at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, Hungary, with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain competing.
UEFA confirmed that each team in this final will receive 17,200 tickets. This number accounts for only about 28% of the Puskás Aréna's total capacity of 61,400 tickets. The official capacity of Puskás Aréna is 67,215 people, but the actual attendance at the 2023 Europa League final between Sevilla and Roma was 61,476, indicating a significant discrepancy between the stadium's capacity and the number of tickets allocated by UEFA this time.
UEFA stated that out of the 61,400 tickets, 39,000 would be sold directly to the public and fans, with the remainder used for sponsors, UEFA official partners, and other allocation purposes. UEFA previously emphasized that "more than 40% of the stadium capacity will be available to fans of the two finalists, at the most affordable price categories, including 'Fans First' and Category 3 tickets." Among them, "Fans First" tickets are specifically allocated to fans of each finalist team, while Category 3 tickets are priced at €180 each (approximately £155 or $211). In addition, Category 2 tickets are priced at €650 (approximately £561 or $765 each), and Category 1 tickets are priced at €950 (approximately £821 or $1117 each), with all ticket sales conducted through the official UEFA ticketing platform.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust stated in a statement that they have been calling on UEFA to improve the treatment of fans at finals for many years. "We hope that UEFA will fully consider the interests of fans who have supported the event for a long time when arranging the final, rather than just taking care of sponsors or commercial partners." The statement read: "This call dates back to the 2019 Europa League final in Baku. At that time, the fan experience was very poor, leading to widespread criticism. Although there have been some improvements in recent years, the allocation of only 17,200 tickets per team this year is still disappointing."
Arsenal Supporters’ Trust also stated that they have fed back their opinions to Arsenal, and the club has promised to pass on the fans' voices to UEFA, but this decision will not change this year's ticketing arrangements. The statement emphasized: "UEFA needs to remember that it is the fans who continuously support the event in the group stage and knockout stage, creating a lively atmosphere for the Champions League. When arranging the final, the role of fans should be more respected."
For fans who cannot purchase tickets, Arsenal has confirmed that it will host a final live broadcast event at the Emirates Stadium to provide a viewing experience for fans who cannot be there in person. The club will release further information on the specific ticketing arrangements and details of the event in the near future.
This Champions League is of great historical significance for Arsenal. The team defeated Atletico Madrid 1-0 in the second leg of the semi-final on Tuesday, with Bukayo Saka's first-half goal being the only goal of the game. This victory not only secured Arsenal's place in the final, but also meant that the North London team reached the Champions League final for the first time since 2006, ending a 20-year wait. Arsenal fans and players have high hopes for this final, hoping to return to the top of Europe after twenty years.
However, the issue of final ticket allocation has undoubtedly caused considerable distress to fans. The allocation of only 17,200 tickets per team means that a large number of loyal fans may not be able to watch the game in person. This will not only affect the atmosphere of the game, but also make fans who have supported the team for a long time feel neglected. The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust stated that they will continue to call on UEFA to improve the treatment of fans in future matches, so that fans who truly support the team and the event can enjoy fairer ticketing opportunities.