Arsenal bid to complete a historic Premier League and Champions League double on Saturday when they face defending champions PSG in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final in Budapest.
Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday, May 30, with kickoff scheduled for 18:00 CET and German referee Daniel Siebert appointed to officiate.
The Gunners, who clinched their first Premier League title in 22 years last week following a four-year rebuild under Mikel Arteta, are chasing an unprecedented league and Champions League double – a feat never before achieved in the club’s 140-year history.
PSG, having dismantled Inter Milan 5-0 in last year’s final, are bidding to become the first side to successfully defend the Champions League in eight years and the first French club ever to win back-to-back European Cups – a feat only Real Madrid have achieved since the competition was rebranded in 1992. Victory for either side on Saturday would represent one of the defining moments in their respective histories.
Team News and Injury Concerns
PSG head into the final with two significant injury concerns. Achraf Hakimi, who has missed the club’s final four Ligue 1 fixtures and the Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, is considered unlikely to start against Arsenal. The Moroccan full-back’s absence would represent a major blow to PSG’s attacking play on the right flank.
Ousmane Dembélé is a more positive story. Last year’s Ballon d’Or winner withdrew after 27 minutes in PSG’s final Ligue 1 game against Paris FC with a suspected calf problem, but has since delivered a confident update.
“I’m doing very well. I had a slight scare against Paris FC, but I’m fine and I’ll be ready for the final. I have no doubt about it,” Dembélé told reporters.
Arsenal head into the final with no fresh injury concerns reported.
Key Players to Watch
Bukayo Saka remains Arsenal’s most potent attacking threat and is expected to be central to Arteta’s game plan against PSG’s defensive structure. Declan Rice, who has been one of the standout midfielders in Europe this season, will be tasked with controlling the tempo and breaking up PSG’s attacking transitions in the centre of the park.
For PSG, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been in devastating form throughout the Champions League campaign, registering six goals and four assists. He is widely regarded as the most dangerous player on the pitch heading into Saturday’s final.
Match Officials and Pre-Match Entertainment
Saturday’s final kicks off at 18:00 CET at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest, with coverage available on CBS and Paramount+. German referee Daniel Siebert will officiate, assisted by linesmen Jan Seidel and Rafael Foltyn, with Sandro Schärer of Switzerland as the fourth official. VAR duties will be handled by Bastian Dankert, supported by Robert Schröder and Spain’s Carlos del Cerro Grande.
The Killers will headline the pre-match Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi, appearing alongside Sir David Beckham in a specially produced short film titled The Race Begins to launch what promises to be one of the most anticipated Champions League finals in recent history.
