Wembley Stadium to host 2013 final

Wembley will host the Champions League final in 2013 and UEFA’s Congress in the same year will take place in London, UEFA president Michel Platini announced yesterday.

The decisions are to mark the “exceptional circumstances” of the Football Association’s 150th anniversary in 2013, Platini told a news conference.

It means Wembley will host an unprecedented two finals in the space of three years after the success of the Barcelona vs Manchester United final last month.

Amsterdam ArenA will stage the UEFA Europa League decider in two years’ time. The winners of those competitions will play off for the UEFA Super Cup at the Eden Stadium in Prague.

The decisions were passed unanimously by UEFA’s executive committee meeting in Nyon, Switzerland.

It will be the seventh time that Wembley has hosted the Champions League or European Cup final, the most of any venue.

Platini said: “There are always many candidates for the Champions League final and the Congress but this is to mark the special year of the English FA.”

In April, before this year’s final, Platini apologised for the high cost of tickets at Wembley and said UEFA would consider introducing a cheaper category for families for future finals.

The cheapest tickets on general sale were priced at £150 plus a £26 administration fee, and the cheapest package for one adult and one child was only available in category two seats costing £338.

The 2011/12 Champions League final will be on May 19 at the Allianz Arena in Munich while 10 days earlier the Europa League will conclude in Bucharest.