Spotify Camp Nou and Wembley in two-horse race to host 2029 Champions League final | OneFootball

Barcelona’s dream of bringing the Champions League final back to Spotify Camp Nou has moved a step closer.

According to Mundo Deportivo, UEFA officially closed the bidding process for the 2029 Champions League final on Wednesday, and no new candidates emerged before the deadline.

As a result, the contest will be a straight battle between Spotify Camp Nou in Barcelona and Wembley Stadium in England.

The winning bid will be announced on September 15 during UEFA’s Executive Committee meeting in Thessaloniki, Greece.

This is far more than just a symbolic opportunity for Barcelona. Hosting the biggest club competition’s final would send a major statement about the completion of the ambitious Espai Barca project.

Camp Nou’s strongest case yet

Barcelona have sent their bid to host 2029 UCL final. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

By 2029, Barcelona expect the redevelopment of Spotify Camp Nou to be fully completed.

The stadium is projected to hold around 104,600 spectators, making it one of the largest football venues in Europe.

Just as importantly, approximately 9,000 VIP seats are expected to be operational, providing a significant source of revenue for UEFA and one of the strongest elements of Barcelona’s bid.

The candidacy is also backed by a number of governing bodies, including the Spanish government, the Government of Catalonia, Barcelona City Council and the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

The timing would also be ideal. The final would arrive just one year before the 2030 World Cup, another tournament that Camp Nou hopes to host.

Wembley remains a formidable obstacle

Despite reasons for optimism, Barcelona face a significant obstacle.

Wembley is Barcelona’s rival. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Images)

Wembley is arguably the most iconic football stadium in Europe and has hosted multiple Champions League finals in both its current and previous versions.

UEFA knows exactly what it gets with the London venue and could choose to side with the devil it knows instead of an unknown angel.

Atletico Madrid’s Metropolitano will host the 2027 final, meaning UEFA could be reluctant to award another men’s Champions League final to Spain only two years later.

Even so, it is good news that Camp Nou is one of only two remaining candidates in the race. A fully rebuilt Camp Nou hosting the Champions League final would be a powerful symbol of the club’s resurgence.

The cherry on the cake would be Barcelona themselves making it to the final that year and playing in front of their home crowd, but it is important to stay in the present and not count our chickens before they hatch.