UEFA Make Decision on Europa League Final Venue

Premier League duo Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur will lock horns in under two weeks’ time to compete for Europa League gold – and the competition organisers, UEFA, have responded to calls for the showpiece to be moved to a different venue other than the San Mames Stadium.

Both sides booked their spot in Bilbao on Thursday night. Ruben Amorim’s men avoided an early score and their aggregate score of 7-1 over Athletic Club was something to be proud of. Ange Postecoglou’s side beat Bodo/Glimt 5-1 over two legs.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Manchester United remain unbeaten in Europe this season.

Held at the San Mames in Bilbao, which is able to accommodate 53,289 matchgoers, there have been calls for the all-England showdown to be moved to a much bigger ground given the inevitable demand for tickets from both sets of supporters.

UEFA Make Europa Final Venue Decision

Both sets of fans issued 15,000 tickets each

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According to the Daily Mail, both sets of fans will be issued 15,000 tickets. A further 11,000 will go on general sale – as hundreds and thousands from each fanbase scramble around for a chance to see their team in action in the Europa League final.

For supporters of Manchester United and Spurs, UEFA’s ‘fans first’ scheme has allowed tickets to be initially priced from £34, which is reasonably priced in comparison to their two encounters in the English top flight, both of which the north Londoners have won.

But that still leaves the remainder (12,000 seats) up for grabs – and these will be offered to sponsorship partners and hospitality guests. Such an allocation for non-Manchester United and Spurs fans has caused calls for the venue to be changed at the last minute.

All in all, it has been reported that although there is plenty of credit for a venue move, it was feasibly impossible given the Basque Country-based stadium, Athletic Club’s San Mames, was awarded the match rights back in 2021.

In the entire history of European football – every time an all-English final has occurred, including Manchester City vs Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League – the match has never been able to change its host venue to accommodate more supporters.

As alluded to, Spurs currently hold the bragging rights over this fixture, having beaten the Red Devils home and away in the Premier League this season. Not only that, but Postecoglou’s men won 4-3 in their League Cup final back in December 2024.

From a domestic point of view, neither side have provided much to scream and shout about – but bringing home European glory would offer both managers, Amorim and Postecoglou, a glimmer of hope before entering the 2025/26 campaign.

Postecoglou Hits Back at Europa League Criticism

'It's going to upset a lot of people, isn't it?'

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The Spurs tactician – one of the longest-serving managers in the Premier League – recently claimed that the final will ‘upset a lot of people’ but, in true Postecoglou fashion, later added that he doesn’t care. “It's going to upset a lot of people, isn't it? The debate’s now raging.

“The latest one is that neither of us will be able to get a trophy if we win, they're just going to take a team photo because we're not worthy. I mean, who cares if we're struggling in the league?"

Related Sky Sports: Tottenham 'Dream' of Hiring 'One of the Most Influential Managers' Ange Postecoglou's future at Tottenham Hotspur is hardly certain and the North London side are eyeing a former Premier League manager to replace him.

“If it's so easy to get to a final, then why doesn't everyone who finishes in the top three do it? It's a separate thing. It's got nothing to do with league form,” the under-fire Greek-Australian said, per football.london, before adding: “I think both us and Manchester United have earned the right to be there."

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