UEFA has made its stance abundantly clear regarding suggestions to relocate the upcoming Europa League final to England, despite the fact that the showpiece event will now feature two of the Premier League’s most storied clubs — Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
On Thursday night, Tottenham booked their place in the Europa League final for the first time in over four decades, cruising past Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory. Their return to a European final marks a major milestone for the North London club, who have struggled domestically this season.
On the other side of the bracket, Manchester United dismantled Spanish side Athletic Club with an even more emphatic 7-1 win across two legs. The result ensures that the final, set to take place at San Mames Stadium in Bilbao, will be an all-English affair.
In the wake of these results, a growing number of fans called for UEFA to consider moving the final to a stadium in England — preferably Wembley — to better accommodate the massive supporter bases of both clubs. However, UEFA has now confirmed that the final will remain in Bilbao as originally scheduled.
The decision is rooted in logistical planning and long-term agreements. The San Mames stadium was awarded the final back in 2021, well before this season’s tournament began. As such, UEFA has reiterated its commitment to honoring that decision, regardless of which clubs reached the final.
Although the game holds enormous importance for both English clubs — each having endured a torrid domestic campaign, languishing in 15th and 16th place in the Premier League — UEFA will not make any exceptions. For both Manchester United and Spurs, the Europa League final presents a last-ditch opportunity to salvage their seasons with silverware and secure a route into next year’s Champions League.
San Mames, home of Athletic Club, boasts a capacity of 53,289, which is expected to fall significantly short of demand. Each club will receive just 15,000 tickets to distribute among their supporters. An additional 11,000 tickets will be released to the general public, while the rest will be allocated to corporate sponsors and hospitality partners.
Had UEFA opted to move the final to England, Wembley Stadium would have been an obvious alternative, with its 90,000 capacity offering a far more accommodating venue. However, Wembley is already scheduled to host Non-League Finals Day on May 21, ruling it out of contention.
This is not the first time UEFA has maintained a fixed stance on the location of European finals. In recent history, several all-English finals have taken place abroad. Chelsea’s 2021 Champions League triumph over Manchester City was held at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto, while Liverpool lifted the 2019 Champions League trophy at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid. That same year, the Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal was held at the Baku Olympic Stadium in Azerbaijan.
While many fans may find the decision disappointing, UEFA’s long-standing policy of final venue commitments means that such changes remain highly unlikely — regardless of the clubs involved. As it stands, Bilbao will host what promises to be a fiercely contested English clash in European competition, even if thousands of eager fans are left scrambling for tickets.
