UEFA at odds with TNT Sports after historic Champions League final decision that impacts millions

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FT Desk

For the first time since the European Cup was rebranded as the Champions League in 1992, viewers in the United Kingdom will not be able to watch the match for free.

Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the final of the tournament in Istanbul, hoping claim their first ever Champions League triumph, while the Parisians are looking to retain their title after demolishing Inter Milan in the 2025 final.

The Gunners reached the final after defeating Atletico Madrid over two legs, while PSG defeated Bayern 6-5 on aggregate in one of the greatest semi-final ties the tournament has ever had.

Even throughout a raft of rights changes, from ITV to Sky Sports, to TNT Sports to HBO Max, the Champions League final, as well as the Europa League and Europa Conference finals, have been free to access for citizens in the UK.

Fans who sign up over the next few days will be able to watch the finals, with HBO Max subscriptions starting at £4.99, compared with TNT Sports packages that cost £31.99 per month on most platforms.

In the years it was not available on a terrestrial broadcaster like ITV, it was broadcast on YouTube or Discovery+ as well as on subscription broadcasters.

That's not the case in 2026 and the Guardian reports that UEFA aren't happy with the decision made by TNT Sports and HBO Max as English clubs are front and centre of the headlines for all three finals.

Arsenal are going for the Champions League, Aston Villa are aiming to win the Europa League, while Crystal Palace and in the Europa Conference League final.

TNT Sports will lose coverage of all three competitions from the 2027–28 season after being outbid in UEFA'ss media rights auction last year, with Paramount securing the Champions League rights and Sky Sports winning the other two competitions.

UEFA sources told The Guardian that the decision breaks the spirit of a contract that states “best endeavours” should be made to ensure the finals are available for free for everyone.