Kiev's Olympic Stadium to host 2018 Champions League final

Posted September 15, 2016 7:00 am

The Associated Press

Napoliâs Arkadiusz Milik, second from right, challenges for the ball during the Champions League Group B soccer match between Dynamo Kiev and Napoli at the Olympiyskiy stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) The Associated Press

ATHENS, Greece (AP) - The 2018 Champions League final will be played in Ukraine's capital Kiev just weeks before neighboring Russia hosts the World Cup.

UEFA's executive committee confirmed Thursday that Kiev's 70,000-capacity Olympic Stadium will stage its highest-profile club match on May 26, 2018.

One barrier to awarding the 2018 final to Kiev had been potential visa problems for Russian officials and guests from Champions League sponsor Gazprom.

Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine in early 2014. UEFA has blocked Russian and Ukrainian national and club teams being drawn together in competitions since July 2014.

UEFA also decided that the Super Cup between the Champions League and Europa League winners will be on Aug. 14, 2018 in the Lillekula stadium in Tallinn, which has a capacity around 10,000.

The French city of Lyon is in talks to host the 2018 Europa League final but tax and security issues still need to be settled.

Dynamo Kiev's Denys Garmash, right, celebrates after scoring a goal during the Champions League Group B soccer match between Dynamo Kiev and Napoli at the Olympiyskiy stadium in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) The Associated Press

CSKA's Roman Eremenko, left, celebrates with team mate CSKA's Lacina Traore after scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League Group E soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and CSKA Moscow in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) The Associated Press

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