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What to Know About the 2026 Champions League Final

Fans of Arsenal cheer during the UEFA Champions League semi-finals 2nd leg match Arsenal FC against Atletico de Madrid, in London, Britain, 05 May 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL
Fans of Arsenal cheer during the UEFA Champions League semi-finals 2nd leg match Arsenal FC against Atletico de Madrid, in London, Britain, 05 May 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL
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What to Know About the 2026 Champions League Final

Fans of Arsenal cheer during the UEFA Champions League semi-finals 2nd leg match Arsenal FC against Atletico de Madrid, in London, Britain, 05 May 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL
Fans of Arsenal cheer during the UEFA Champions League semi-finals 2nd leg match Arsenal FC against Atletico de Madrid, in London, Britain, 05 May 2026. EPA/NEIL HALL

Arsenal became the first team to book its place in the 2026 Champions League final by beating Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.

Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich will join the Premier League club in the showpiece at the Puskas Arena in Budapest, Hungary this month.

Defending champion PSG leads Bayern 5-4 after a thrilling first leg in Paris.

The second leg is on Wednesday in Munich.

Here's what to know about the Champions League final.

When is the Champions League final and what time is the kick off? This year's final will be staged in Budapest on May 30. Kick off time has been brought forward to 1800 CET, having traditionally been played 2100 CET. Governing body UEFA said the decision for an earlier kick off was to enhance the matchday experience for fans and to optimize logistics such as public transport.

Who is headlining the pre-match show? Rock band the Killers will be performing on the night. In recent years Linkin Park and Lenny Kravitz have headlined.

Arsenal is in the final for the first time since 2006. It is only its second time in the final and it has never won European club soccer's top competition, having lost to Barcelona in 2006.

Mikel Arteta's team was beaten in last year's semifinals by eventual champion PSG.

PSG is aiming to become only the second team to win back-to-back Champions League titles, having lifted the trophy for the first time last year.

Since the tournament was rebranded as the Champions League in the 1992-93 campaign only Real Madrid has retained the title, winning three times in succession from 2016-18.

Bayern has won the Champions League or European Cup on six occasions — most recently in 2020. Victory this year would see it equal AC Milan's total of seven titles to make the German giant the joint second most successful team in the competition's history behind Madrid, which is a 15-time winner.

About the Puskas Arena The 67,000-seater stadium was opened in 2019 and built on the same site as the previous Ferenc Puskas Stadion — named after the Hungarian and Real Madrid icon, who won three European Cups as a player.

Recent winners 2025 PSG
2024 Real Madrid
2023 Manchester City
2022 Real Madrid
2021 Chelsea
Most Champions League/European Cup wins 15 Real Madrid
7 AC Milan
6 Bayern Munich, Liverpool
5 Barcelona
4 Ajax
3 Manchester United, Inter Milan

Where is the 2026-27 Champions League final? The 2027 final will be staged at Atletico Madrid's stadium the Estadio Metropolitano. It is the second time it has held the final, having staged the 2019 showdown between Liverpool and Tottenham.

The city of Madrid has hosted the final on five previous occasions.

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Sports

Serena Williams to Return to Tennis at Queen’s Club

Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)
Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)
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Serena Williams to Return to Tennis at Queen’s Club

Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)
Serena Williams motions a heart to fans during the third round of the US Open tennis championships, Sept. 2, 2022, in New York. (AP)

Serena Williams confirmed her return to tennis after an absence of nearly four years on Monday, with the American great set to play women's doubles at Queen's club later this month.

The 44-year-old has not played competitively since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open left her one short of the all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles, jointly held by Margaret Court and Novak Djokovic.

Williams shared a video on social media of herself on a tennis court containing the caption: "Guess everybody heard the news", with her phone buzzing rapidly in the background.

A post from the seven-time Wimbledon champion said: "Good news travels fast."

"Queen's Club feels like the perfect place to begin this next chapter," Williams said in a statement from tournament organisers.

"Grass has given me some of the most meaningful moments of my career, and I'm excited to be back competing on one of the sport's most iconic stages."

The women's event at the London tournament starts on June 8.

- Rumors -

Williams' imminent return has been touted since it was revealed in December she had re-entered the anti-doping program -- a prerequisite to play on the tour again.

The American denied she was planning a competitive return but rumors have swirled over the past few months that she was on her way back.

She has now been given a wild card for the women's doubles at Queen's, reportedly alongside young Canadian Victoria Mboko.

Djokovic predicted a return for Williams in March and a number of players have spoken about the subject at the ongoing French Open.

"I think it's good for me. I'll be very entertained," said Naomi Osaka, who famously beat Williams in the 2018 US Open final, when asked if she would watch a comeback match from Serena.

Coco Gauff, who lost in the third round of the French Open on Saturday, said she would love to face Williams for the first time.

"Serena Williams is one of the greatest athletes the world has ever seen, and we're delighted that she will be making her return to tennis at the LTA's HSBC Championships," said WTA tournament director Laura Robson.

"Women's tennis made a historic return to the Queen's Club last year and now we have an icon of the game stepping back on to court."

The former world number one said in 2022 she did not want to use the word "retiring" but instead explained she was "evolving" away from tennis.

The American spent 319 weeks at the top of the world rankings and won 73 singles titles on the WTA Tour.

She also won 14 major Grand Slam doubles titles with older sister Venus Williams, who ended a 16-month hiatus from professional tennis last year.

Venus said the "only thing" that would have made her being back on court better would have been if Serena had also returned.

Sports

Tunisia Seek Fresh Spark as Lamouchi Reshapes Ageing Squad

Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
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Tunisia Seek Fresh Spark as Lamouchi Reshapes Ageing Squad

Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)
Tunisia players pose for a team photo before the Africa Cup of Nations group C soccer match between Tanzania and Tunisia in Rabat, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025. (AP)

Tunisia carry quiet momentum ‌into the 2026 World Cup after cruising through qualifying without conceding a single goal, but familiar doubts remain over whether their disciplined approach can trouble the game's elite on the global stage.

Drawn alongside the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden in Group F, Tunisia once again look set to rely on defensive organization and tactical consistency, qualities that have long made them one of Africa's most resilient sides.

However, recent performances have reinforced concerns about their lack of attacking edge against stronger opposition, with Tunisia continuing to depend more on collective discipline than individual brilliance.

Coach Sabri ‌Lamouchi has responded ‌by beginning a cautious reshaping of an ageing ‌squad ⁠ahead of the ⁠finals, leaving out established veterans including midfielder Ferjani Sassi and defender Yassine Meriah as he looks to refresh the team.

"These decisions were not easy; on the contrary, they were extremely difficult," Lamouchi was quoted as saying by FIFA.com after naming his squad.

"But I am not looking to make simple decisions, nor am I looking to select players to please ⁠anyone other than the Tunisian people - neither now nor ‌during the tournament."

Instead, Lamouchi has turned ‌to new faces and younger profiles as he attempts to inject greater energy ‌without sacrificing the defensive solidity that underpinned Tunisia's qualification campaign.

Among the ‌notable additions is Union Berlin midfielder Rani Khedira, the 32-year-old brother of former Germany international Sami Khedira, who switched allegiance earlier this year after spending his entire professional career in Germany.

The French coach has also recalled several younger ‌players, including Paris St Germain striker Khalil Ayari and Canada-based forward Rayan Elloumi, signaling a gradual transition ⁠rather than a ⁠complete rebuild.

Still, Tunisia's hopes may depend heavily on Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri, one of the few players capable of producing moments of creativity and unpredictability in the final third.

The 23-year-old, who came through Manchester United's academy before moving to Burnley, is expected to shoulder much of Tunisia's attacking responsibility during the tournament.

Tunisia's pragmatic style has often made them difficult opponents in African competition, but their World Cup record remains modest. They have appeared at six previous World Cups but never advanced beyond the group stage.

Navigating a group containing the Netherlands, Japan and Sweden may ultimately reveal whether Lamouchi's gradual rebuild has given Tunisia enough quality and dynamism to compete beyond their traditional role as stubborn outsiders.

Sports

Iraq Name Experienced World Cup Squad with Hussein Spearheading Attack

Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
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Iraq Name Experienced World Cup Squad with Hussein Spearheading Attack

Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)
Iraq's coach Graham Arnold waits for the start of the international friendly soccer match between Iraq and Andorra in Girona, Spain, Friday, May 29, 2026. (AP)

Iraq head coach Graham ‌Arnold named his final 26-man World Cup squad on Monday, relying heavily on the core group of players who secured qualification through the intercontinental playoffs.

Experienced forward Aymen Hussein is set to spearhead the Iraqi attack in North America. The veteran striker, a talismanic figure for the national team, leads a potent frontline that also features Ipswich Town's Ali Al-Hamadi ‌and talented ‌youngsters Ali Jassim and Youssef ‌Amyn.

A ⁠notable omission from ⁠Arnold's selection was Dundee defender Dario Naamo. The full-back was excluded after recently changing his sporting nationality, having represented Finland at youth international level.

Arnold's midfield selections boast considerable European experience, headlined by Utrecht's Zidane Iqbal and ⁠Heerenveen's Aimar Sher.

Arnold has also ‌decided to keep ‌goalkeeper Kamil Saadi with the squad during the training ‌camp as a precaution against potential injuries. ‌

Iraq are returning to the global showpiece event for the first time in 40 years after beating Bolivia 2-1 in April to secure the ‌final World Cup spot. They have been drawn in Group I ⁠alongside France, ⁠Senegal and Norway.

Goalkeepers: Fahad Talib, Jalal Hassan, Ahmed Basil

Defenders: Hussein Ali, Manaf Younis, Zaid Tahseen, Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski, Ahmed Yahya, Zaid Ismail, Frans Putros, Mustafa Saadoon Midfielders: Amir Al Ammari, Kevin Yakob, Zidane Iqbal, Aimar Sher, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ahmed Qasim, Youssef Amyn, Marko Farji

Forwards: Ali Jassim, Ali Al Hamadi, Ali Yousef, Aymen Hussein, Mohanad Ali