The 2022-23 Champions League final will be held at Istanbul’s Atatürk Olympic Stadium, UEFA announced on Friday, May 12. Earlier rumors suggested that the Champions League final could be shifted away from Istanbul, citing political upheaval as the main reason. However, with UEFA issuing a statement, it is now confirmed that Istanbul will host this year’s showpiece, putting an end to rumors over another location shift.
“UEFA would like to clarify the position on the 2023 Champions League final,” a UEFA statement said.
“The 2023 UEFA Champions League final will take place in Istanbul as scheduled, on 10 June 2023. UEFA has no discussions to the contrary with any political institutions, governments or national football associations,” the statement further added.
According to rumors on Thursday, this year’s Champions League final could be shifted away from Istanbul, with Portugal once again being considered. After the Covid-19 pandemic, the final, which has been subject to alteration, was relocated away from Istanbul in 2020. The city has been awarded the privilege to host the final in 2021, but with Covid-19 at its peak, the final was shifted to Porto. In 2022, the final was again shifted due to the Russia-Ukraine war with St. Petersburg final getting staged in Paris.
The primary source of the rumors was the country’s political instability, with Presidential elections on the horizon. In the elections, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is running against Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the Republican People’s Party, or CHP.
The Champions League finalists will be revealed next week following the conclusion of the second leg. Real Madrid and Manchester City will begin the second leg tied at 1-1, while Inter leads city rivals AC Milan 2-0. The victor of both ties will fly to Istanbul on June 10 to be crowned European champions.