Arsenal vs PSG: Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 Champions League Final

Budapest hosts its first-ever Champions League final on Saturday, May 30, 2026, as Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain meet at the Puskás Aréna . The 67,215-capacity stadium sets the stage for a clash between two of Europe's most valuable squads — one chasing history, the other defending it .

A New Kickoff Time for the Showpiece

For the first time, the Champions League final will kick off at 18:00 CET (17:00 BST / 12:00 ET), a permanent change from the traditional 21:00 slot . UEFA announced the shift on August 28, 2025, stating it would "enhance the overall matchday experience for fans, teams and host cities" by improving logistics and public transport options after the match . UK viewers can watch the match live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage beginning around 15:00 BST .

Contrasting Title Pursuits

Paris Saint-Germain enter as the defending champions, seeking their second consecutive European crown and second in club history . Arsenal, meanwhile, are appearing in their first final since 2006 and are still chasing a first-ever Champions League trophy . The Gunners have never won the competition, making this a potentially defining moment for Mikel Arteta's project.

Injury Situation Entering the Final

Both sides will be missing key defensive players.

Arsenal

• Ben White (knee) — confirmed out with a medial knee ligament injury suffered against West Ham .
• Jurriën Timber (muscle) is listed as doubtful .
• Bukayo Saka, William Saliba, and David Raya all trained away from the main group late in the week, though no further confirmed absences have been announced .

PSG

• Achraf Hakimi (thigh) — not expected to be fit to start after injuring his thigh in the semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich nearly a month ago; considered a major blow .
• Lucas Chevalier (thigh) — out .
• Ousmane Dembélé (muscle) — doubtful, though he has publicly insisted he will be fit to start .

PSG were monitoring up to six first-team players for fitness concerns entering the final week, with Luis Enrique managing a squad stretched by late-season injuries .

Over €2 Billion in Combined Squad Value

The final is one of the most expensive in Champions League history. According to Transfermarkt estimates, Arsenal's squad is valued at approximately €1.2 billion, while PSG's is worth around €1.1 billion, giving a combined figure of over €2.3 billion . Other valuations differ slightly: Football Benchmark placed PSG's squad at €1.309 billion during the semi-finals, while earlier-season estimates from various sources list Arsenal as high as €1.34 billion and PSG as low as €920 million, reflecting the variability of real-time market data . Regardless of the exact figure, both squads comfortably exceed the billion-euro mark.

Arsenal's £122 Million Prize Money Windfall

Arsenal have already banked more than £122 million (approximately €142 million / $166 million) in UEFA prize money from this season's campaign . Qualifying for the final alone added roughly €18.5 million (£16 million) to the pot . Lifting the trophy would bring an additional £10 million (approximately €11.7 million / $13.6 million) on top . According to financial analyst Swiss Ramble, Arsenal also earned an estimated €37 million (£32 million) through UEFA's "value pillar" payments, which combine a club's national media market value with European performance over the last decade . PSG's specific prize money figures were not separately reported in the available sources, though as defending champions they have accumulated substantial performance bonuses through the knockout rounds.

Samir Nasri Withdraws After Abuse from PSG Ultras

Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri withdrew from his punditry role for the final after being targeted by PSG ultras during the Champions League semi-final in Munich . Nasri said PSG supporters chanted insults, including about his mother, telling French outlet Le Parisien: "They insulted my mother!" . He stepped down from the pitch-side broadcasting team and confirmed he will not travel to Budapest to avoid further mistreatment .

Canal+ had initially accredited Nasri for the final, but his name was later removed from the updated list submitted to UEFA . PSG fans have historically viewed Nasri as a rival due to his past with Marseille, fueling the hostile reception in Munich .