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Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham could all be impacted by a sudden Champions League change this season.
Announcing in a statement on UEFA's website, the Champions League final - set to take place in Budapest - is now due to kick-off three hours earlier compared to its normal 8pm BST (9pm CET) start time. Indeed, the 2025/26 Champions League final will now kick-off at 5pm BST (6pm CET) to "enhance the matchday experience and benefit fans, teams and host cities."
Arsenal reached the semi-final of last season's Champions League and they were one step from reaching the final before then losing out to Paris Saint-Germain. Meanwhile, Chelsea last featured in Europe's elite club competition final back in 2021 when they won it after beating Manchester City 1-0.
Tottenham, who qualified for the Champions League after winning the Europa League, lost to Liverpool in 2019, during their previous appearance in the final of this competition.
UEFA said after confirming a change in kick-off time for the Champions League final: "UEFA today announced an important update to the match schedule of its flagship competition; starting with the 2026 final in Budapest, the kick-off time of the UEFA Champions League final will move forward from 21:00CET to 18:00CET.
"The decision is designed to enhance the overall matchday experience for fans, teams and host city by optimising logistics and operations, while delivering several tangible benefits.
"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 also makes it easy for families and children to attend the biggest and most important club football match of the season.
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"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, this 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."
UEFA president Alexander Ceferin said: "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 night 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."
Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham will discover their opponents for the league phase of the Champions League at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco at 5pm (6pm CET) on Thursday.
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