Azerbaijan and Spain are competing to host the Champions League final in 2027 after Milan pulled out

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — Azerbaijan and Spain have expressed interest in hosting the men's Champions League final in 2027 after bidding for European soccer's biggest club game reopened by UEFA.

The match is set to be played at Baku's Olympic Stadium or Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium after they were named as the two interested bidders by UEFA on Wednesday.

Their final proposals must be submitted by March 19, UEFA said. A decision on who will host the final is expected to be made in May.

The search for a new venue was opened after the UEFA Executive Committee decided not to host the final at Milan's historic San Siro stadium.

UEFA had granted a longer deadline During the planned renovation work between the hosting ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympics and the hosting of the 2032 European Championship Games, the City of Milan would be available for the presentation of the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza. The city authorities ultimately were unable to provide these guarantees.

Baku hosted games at the 2021 European Championship and was also the venue for the Europa League final between Chelsea and Arsenal in 2019.

The Metropolitano Stadium hosted the Champions League final in 2019, when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0.

UEFA also announced on Wednesday that there are four interested bidders for the Women's Champions League final in 2027: Poland (Warsaw); Spain (Barcelona), Switzerland (Basel) and Wales (Cardiff).

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