Defending champions Paris Saint-Germain lock horns with Premier League winners Arsenal in a battle for European supremacy. The 2026 Champions League final kicks off at an unusual hour—6:00 PM—and will be broadcast live on both M6 and Canal+.

PSG eyes back-to-back European glory

Paris enters the final as the reigning European champions, aiming to become only the second club in history to secure consecutive titles. However, their path to Budapest was far from smooth. Struggling in Ligue 1—finishing 11th—they survived a playoff against AS Monaco to reach the knockout stages. Once there, they delivered standout attacking performances, dismantling Chelsea 8-2 and Liverpool 4-0 before a dramatic semi-final triumph over Bayern Munich.

Key to their success has been the form of Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, whose creativity and flair have been decisive in pivotal moments.

Arsenal’s long-awaited return to the summit

Arsenal, meanwhile, arrives in Budapest with a historic opportunity. The English side has never lifted the Champions League, its sole previous final appearance in 2006 ending in defeat to FC Barcelona at the Stade de France. Two decades later, the Gunners return to the final stage, fresh off securing the Premier League title—its first in 22 years—under the guidance of Mikel Arteta. Their campaign has been built on defensive resilience and tactical discipline.

The stage is set for a clash of contrasting ambitions: PSG’s pursuit of continental dominance versus Arsenal’s dream of writing its name in European football history.