Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final today, though the game has not been made available to watch free-to-air in the UK.
Ever since the competition took over from the old European Cup in 1992, each year’s final has been available to watch without a subscription - whether that be on ITV, BT Sport or TNT Sports.
Furthermore, in previous years the Champions League final has been broadcast for free on YouTube.
However, the 2026 final between the champions of England and France respectively - which has a new kick-off time of 5pm BST - will NOT be available without paying in the UK for the first time in the competition’s 34-year history.
TNT Sports, the UK rights holder of UEFA club competitions, has confirmed that viewers will only be able to watch the clash at the Puskas Arena in Budapest on today (Saturday, May 30) on either its own platform or HBO Max, which both require a subscription.
The reason for this is because TNT Sports feel a subscription for HBO Max is “exceptional value” from £4.99.
“Hard-working people should not have to worry about forking out for a subscription to watch a game of this magnitude,” the Prime Minister said in a letter to TNT Sports.
“I was saddened to see that, for the first time since the competition started 34 years ago, TNT Sports has decided that the Champions League final will not be free to watch for football supporters here in the UK.
“The Champions League is the biggest club football competition in the world and rightly means a lot to fans in this country – the home of football.
“I am a firm believer that the final of this competition should remain free to watch, whether Arsenal have made it or not.”
