Budapest, Hungary – UEFA don announce new kick-off time for its men’s Champions League final, dem go push am three hours earlier starting from 2026 edition wey go happen for Budapest. This new time, wey dem set for 6pm CET (12pm ET, 5pm BST), dey meant to make am easy for fans wey wan travel come watch am.
Dem say this early start go really help people wey dey hustle for public transport after match (no more scrambling like say dem dey run from wahala!). Plus, e go gree fans time to celebrate small after the match finish and enjoy the nightlife for where dem dey host the final. (Who no like small wahala-free party?)
UEFA, the big boss of European football, don make am clear say dem wan make account for fans’ experience, wey na wetin their president Aleksander Ceferin talk for news release. “With this change, we are placing the fans’ experience at the heart of our planning,” he gree talk. E mean say they no go just dey think about money, but how fans go enjoy dem time as well.
Dis no be the first time dem go change when the final go start. For 2010, dem don already shift am to Saturday. So this fit be new normal as European football dey evolve. That small change for schedule fit also help dem attract more fans from Asia, as dem don move time from 12.30am to 9.30pm in India. Sweet!
But no be all good news, as this change go make American fans adjust their own timing too, (Na wah! Abeg, no forget to set your alarm). Dem go need to wake up for 9am PST or 12pm EST to catch the live action. Sabi say, watching the final na big deal for dem, and dem go want avoid missing the fun.
As the 2025 Champions League final don pass, Paris Saint-Germain carry di trophy go home from Munich. The draw for di upcoming season na for Thursday by 5pm BST (12pm ET). English teams like Liverpool and Manchester City dey ready to battle Real Madrid while Chelsea go face Barcelona. Na so e be!
Some people go dey talk say dem love the earlier kick-off time, say it dey promote better experience. (But wetin go happen to evening viewing party if match dey finish for afternoon? Omo, na market for food and drinks go dey here!) Side note, dem don notice say more global audience go dey needed for the men’s competition, especially with this move, wey go fit help UEFA raise more money for development.
So padi, get your jerseys ready, because UEFA dey shake things up for better show on finals day! Make dem no forget say na fans build football, so we go watch as everything unfold come 2026.
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