Budapest Braces for PSG vs. Arsenal: Thousands March to Champions League Final Under Heavy Security

Budapest is buzzing as tens of thousands of fans from Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal make their way to the Puskás Arena for tonight’s Champions League final. The Hungarian capital is hosting the showpiece for the first time, and the atmosphere is electric—but police are taking no chances.

Fan zones for the two clubs sit about two kilometers from the stadium, on opposite sides. Organizers have carefully mapped out separate routes so supporters never cross paths. Each zone is packed with big screens, souvenir stalls, food vendors, and medical tents, with ambulances on standby. At the Arsenal zone, touts are already hawking tickets for as much as $6,000, holding signs advertising their wares. Mounted police patrol the areas, and officers escort every fan column as it moves toward the ground.

Security is tight. To enter the Puskás Arena, fans must pass through three checkpoints—at the approach, the perimeter, and the stadium gate itself. Only ticket holders are allowed near the venue, and rapid-response units are stationed at every entrance. Queues started forming three hours before kickoff.

At the New York Hotel, where PSG players are staying, police and hotel staff are keeping a close watch. The famous New York Café inside—usually a tourist magnet—has been closed since Friday. Only guests can enter the building.

Hungarian police deputy commissioner Zoltán János Kuczik said each club received 17,000 tickets, with another 10,000 fans arriving without them. To keep order, nearly 4,000 officers are on the streets, working closely with UEFA and both teams’ security teams. So far, the city remains calm, but authorities are ready for anything.