UEFA Executive Director Serve Yardimci has announced that the 2026 UEFA Europa League and 2027 UEFA Conference League finals will be held in Istanbul.
The UEFA Executive Board meeting, which was attended by Serve Yardimuci, was held in the Irish capital, Dublin.
The board has decided that the 2026 UEFA Europa League final will be held at Besiktas’ home stadium, Tupras Stadium, while the venue for the 2027 Conference League final will be decided at a later date.
Tupras Stadium will host the UEFA Finals for the second time. In 2019, the UEFA Super Cup final between two English teams, Liverpool and Chelsea, was held at Vodafone Park, as it was then known.
Possibility of a new Ankara stadium
UEFA and the Turkish Football Federation announced that the original plan was for both finals to be played at Besiktas’ home ground, Tupras Stadium.
The upcoming conference league finals will be held in ???? and ? ? ? ? !
2026: Leipzig, RB Arena
2027: Besiktas Park, Istanbul
All executive committee decisions: ??#UECLfinal
— UEFA (@UEFA) May 22, 2024
TFF also announced that the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be held in the capital once the new Ankara Stadium, currently under construction in Ankara, is completed and approved by UEFA.
In a statement, the federation said: “The Turkish Football Federation has held discussions with relevant parties and has decided to submit an application to UEFA for the new Ankara stadium after the end of the 2024 European Football Championship (EURO24).” It is currently under construction to host the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final. If approved by UEFA, the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be held at the new Ankara Stadium. Therefore, once the formalities are completed, the UEFA Stadium will be held in the capital Ankara. The expression used was: “The European Conference League final will be held as scheduled at Besiktas Park.”
Mehmet Büyükeksi: “We are rightly proud”
In a statement after the meeting, TFF President Mehmet Büyükeksi said: “As you know, we have made our country feel justly proud by winning the right to host the 2032 European Football Championship. I’m proud to have earned the right to participate in the tournament.” We are proud to have won the 2024 European Football Championship, won the 2023 Champions League final in first place, and now welcome the 2026 UEFA Europa League final to Turkey. “We have won the right to host the match at Besiktas Park, also known as Tupras Stadium. As if this were not enough, we have also won the right to host the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final at Besiktas Park,” said the Irish capital, Dublin. ”. ” He said.
“For the first time in our history, we will be able to play the final in our capital.”
Providing information on the details of the candidacy application process, President Büyükeksi said: “UEFA started the candidacy process for these finals on 17 May 2023. The application period was until 17 July 2023.” TFF As such, we were candidates for both finals.” UEFA Europe 2026, Germany, Romania and the Scottish Football Federation were also candidates for the league final, while Germany, Israel, Norway and Scotland were also candidates for the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League final. Once the construction of the new Ankara Stadium is completed, we will be able to host the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final in the capital for the first time in history. We have developed all of these processes in consultation with the government. The management of UEFA, the management of TFF, the management of Besiktas Gymnastics Club, we have built these wonderful stadiums, and the transportation and accommodation facilities are above world standards. I would like to thank President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the country for making this possible. We played our part by working hard and after winning the rights to host the 2032 European Football Championship and the 2023 UEFA Champions League Final, we today announce the 2026 UEFA Europa League Final and the 2027 UEFA Europa League Final. We brought the 2019 UEFA Europa Conference League final to Turkey.” .
“I hope the European cup competitions will remain in Türkiye.”
President Büyükeksi emphasized his belief that Turkish football will develop and reach a better level, saying, “Turkey will become a rising star in European and world football. Our national team will rise to the top of the FIFA world rankings.” We will continue to do so.” We hope to become European champions in the 2032 European Football Championship that we will host. “Hopefully, Turkish clubs will qualify for the 2026 UEFA Europa League final and the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League final, and European cup competitions will remain in Turkey. In our country.” He finished his sentence with a wish.
Details of the candidacy application process
The candidature process relating to the hosting of the 2026 and 2027 UEFA Club Competition Finals was announced by UEFA on 17 May 2023. Member federations have been given until July 17, 2023 to send letters of interest and identify potential stadiums. The Turkish Football Federation has sent a letter expressing interest in hosting both the 2026 UEFA Europa League Final and the 2027 UEFA Europa Conference League Final, naming Besiktas Park as a potential stadium.
Six different member federations applied
Germany, Romania and Scotland will host the UEFA Europa League final together with the Turkish Football Federation. A total of six different member federations have applied to host the UEFA Europa Conference League final, including Germany, Israel, Norway and Scotland. The relevant preliminary file for hosting the final was delivered to UEFA on 15 November 2023, and the final file was delivered to UEFA on 21 February 2024.
