A heated dispute has emerged between UEFA, the German Football Association, and Munich city officials regarding the hosting of this summer's Nations League semi-finals and final, with costs becoming a major point of contention.
The controversy centers around Munich's potential role in hosting the tournament's final stages, which would only materialize if Germany defeats Italy in their upcoming quarter-final match. According to the plan announced in December 2024, a German victory would see Munich and Stuttgart sharing hosting duties, while an Italian win would result in Turin hosting the event.
Munich's 80,000-capacity Allianz Arena, already scheduled to host this season's Champions League final, seemed a logical choice, especially given the German national team's headquarters in nearby Herzogenaurach, southern Germany. However, the anticipated €12 million in preparation costs has sparked resistance from local authorities.
Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter made his position clear last week, dismissing the tournament as "this Nations League Dingsda (thingamajig)" and stating firmly: "We have nothing against you playing here, but we won't spend a single euro on it and we won't be able to organize a fan festival and everything that goes with it, logistically speaking."
The situation has drawn criticism from prominent football figures, including Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern Munich's former CEO and current supervisory board member. Speaking to SportBild, Rummenigge expressed his dismay, stating it would be "embarrassing" for Munich to reject the hosting opportunity. He emphasized the potential benefits, noting, "How often does a country or a city get a Final Four presented to it on a silver platter? Munich would have worldwide attention. Of course, there would be costs for the city, but the revenue for hotels, restaurants and shops from the influx of tourists would compensate for that many times over."
A final decision on the matter has been postponed until February 26, following recent discussions between Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen and Mayor Reiter. The issue remains unresolved, with UEFA expected to allow domestic resolution between the German Football Association and Munich City Council. When approached by The Athletic, the German Football Association, Bayern Munich, and UEFA declined to comment on the situation.
The tournament's group stages have already seen successful qualification from Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, Croatia, Netherlands, and Portugal, with two-legged quarter-finals scheduled for March before the final-four tournament in June.
