EHF President Michael Wiederer has announced a timely decision on the future location of the Champions League final in handball. “It will be very soon that we can make a statement about the location for the years 2025 and 2026,” said the head of the European Handball Federation (EHF) on “SID” request.
Since 2010, the winner of the premier class in Cologne has been decided in a final tournament with four teams. From next year, the Final Four organized by the Handball Bundesliga (HBL) for the DHB Cup will also take place in the cathedral city. The contract between EHF and the city expires in 2024.
“We feel very well looked after in Cologne. There was also an agreement regarding competitive events. We support the fact that the HBL is going to Cologne with the Cup Final Four. At the same time, we are in talks with the city of Cologne,” emphasized again.
On Saturday, THW Kiel will fight against defending champions FC Barcelona (6:00 p.m.) and Vive Kielce with national goalkeeper Andreas Wolff against Telekom Veszprem (3:15 p.m.) for a place in the final on Sunday. Wiederer (66) expressly welcomes the fact that the hall can be used to full capacity again after two years at this year’s Final Four.
In retrospect, it was “enormously important” that the EHF held the Final Four in 2020 and 2021 in front of largely empty ranks. “But of course the atmosphere is completely different when spectators are there, and I’m very happy that it’s like that again,” said Wiederer. Cologne is “our beacon, the event has enormous appeal and is indispensable for the visibility of handball”.