Report: UEFA wants Santiago Bernabeu to host Champions League final after witnessing its NFL transformation | OneFootball

Real Madrid added another milestone to their long list of historic achievements last night as the Santiago Bernabeu staged its first-ever NFL game. 

The event drew global attention, not only for its spectacle but also for what it symbolised about the club’s ambitious transformation of their iconic stadium. 

The impact has been immediate, and according to a fresh report from Defensa Central, the reaction from UEFA has been particularly striking.

UEFA are massively impressed

As per the report, UEFA officials are said to be deeply impressed with the new-look Bernabeu, to the point where they would like to see the stadium host a future Champions League final. 

Despite the governing body’s complicated relationship with Real Madrid in recent years, admiration for what the club has built appears undeniable. 

Santiago Bernabeu made history last night. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

Several outlets have suggested that the success of the NFL game and the worldwide visibility it generated has pushed UEFA to view the Bernabeu as an elite multi-event venue capable of hosting the biggest night in European football.

There are some issues

For what it is worth, there is a significant obstacle. Real Madrid must formally request to host a Champions League final, and at the moment, the club has no intention of submitting such a bid. 

The priority internally is not external validation but ensuring that the stadium becomes a powerful long-term revenue engine, something Florentino Perez envisioned long before the renovation began.

Within Real Madrid, the mood is one of pride. 

The club is delighted with how the revamped Bernabeu is performing on the global stage, and the NFL showcase is viewed as proof that the stadium can attract and deliver world-class events across different sporting cultures. 

This aligns perfectly with Perez’s vision of turning the Bernabeu into a year-round entertainment hub.