Why 5pm? Real reasons behind early kick-off for Arsenal vs PSG revealed

Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain will battle for European club football’s biggest prize today, but fans may notice one significant change before a ball is kicked.

A lot has changed since Arsenal last reached a Champions League final. The Gunners’ previous appearance came in 2006, when they were beaten by Barcelona in Paris on a Wednesday evening.

Since the 2009-10 season, however, the Champions League final has traditionally been played on a Saturday night. That long-standing schedule has now been adjusted, with UEFA introducing an earlier kick-off time for this year’s showpiece.

Back in August, UEFA announced that from the 2025-26 season, the Champions League final would kick off at 5pm BST instead of the traditional 8pm BST.

According to UEFA, the change is aimed at improving the overall experience for supporters and making the event more accessible.

The governing body said the decision was taken to “enhance the matchday experience and benefit fans, teams and host cities”.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin explained the reasoning behind the move, saying:

“With this change, we are placing the fans’ experience at the heart of our planning.

“The UEFA Champions League final is the highlight of the football season, and the new kick-off time will make it even more accessible, inclusive, and impactful for everyone involved.

“While a 21:00CET kick-off is well suited for midweek matches, an earlier kick-off on a Saturday for the final means an earlier finish – regardless of extra time or penalties – and offers fans the opportunity to enjoy the rest of the evening with friends and family, reflecting on the game of the season.”

UEFA also outlined several benefits of the earlier start time in an official statement.

The statement reads:

“Our goal is to make matchday a truly enjoyable experience for everyone who wants to be part of the excitement, while creating a welcoming atmosphere that makes it easy for families and children to attend the biggest and most important club football match of the season.

“For travelling supporters, it will mean improved access to public transport – especially after the match – and a safer, more convenient journey back from the stadium.

“For the host cities, it will boost the positive economic impact of the event by giving fans the possibility to continue their celebrations.

“The new kick-off time also aligns with a more accessible broadcasting window, helping the final reach an even broader television and digital audience worldwide, with a particular focus on engaging younger viewers.”

As Arsenal and PSG prepare to contest the Champions League crown, UEFA hopes the earlier kick-off will allow more supporters to enjoy the occasion both inside the stadium and around the world.