Amsterdam and Lisbon are among the contenders to host the Champions Cup final in 2025.
Champions Cup chiefs have had a clutch of firm offers to host the European finals weekend in 2025, but Amsterdam and Lisbon are two strong options, Standard Sport understands.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host the Challenge Cup and Champions Cup finals in May 2024, and tournament bosses EPCR are progressing their plans for 2025.
Banking giants Investec have boosted the Champions Cup by coming on board as new title sponsors for the world’s biggest club competition, where South Africa’s top teams battle it out with Europe’s best.
Tournament chiefs are also still reviewing offers for a title sponsor for the second-tier Challenge Cup competition.
Dutch capital Amsterdam has emerged as a strong contender to host the 2025 European finals weekend.
Ajax’s Johan Cryuff Arena would be the backdrop for both finals should Amsterdam’s bid prove successful.
South Africa’s Free State Cheetahs will play their Challenge Cup matches in Amsterdam in this season’s competition.
The Cheetahs’ main club sponsor is Toyota, and the Japanese automotive giants have their main European base in Amsterdam.
Portugal capital Lisbon has numbered among the strong contenders for 2025 finals host status for some time.
Bilbao hosted the 2018 finals weekend and EPCR chiefs are thought to have considered the Spanish city as one of the top destinations in recent years.
Lisbon was among the main contenders for 2025 hosting duties even before Portugal lit up this year’s World Cup, by beating Fiji for their first-ever tournament victory.
That stunning 24-23 triumph on October 8 in France captured the imagination of fans all over the globe, and has put Portugal far more firmly on rugby’s international map.
Dublin’s Aviva Stadium hosted the finals weekend last season, as EPCR looked to consolidate after Covid.
London represents another robust choice in a rugby heartland for 2024, with the backdrop of Tottenham’s ultra high-tech stadium well versed in hosting rugby thanks to Saracens staging home Premiership matches at the venue.
Tournament organisers expect to be able to finalise the 2025 hosts in the first three months of next year.
