MADRID, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has welcomed UEFA's decision on Tuesday to select Camp Nou as the venue for the 2029 Champions League final.
UEFA made the decision despite the stadium still undergoing redevelopment work. Once the project is completed, Camp Nou is expected to have a capacity of 105,000.
"It is a source of immense pride for FC Barcelona and for all Barcelona fans," Laporta said on the club's website.
Laporta added that the decision to award Camp Nou the 2029 final was "also international recognition for the new Camp Nou, cementing its status as a world-class stadium at the forefront of experience, technology, connectivity, accessibility, and services."
Camp Nou has hosted European club football's showpiece final twice before. AC Milan beat Steaua Bucharest 4-0 in 1989, while Manchester United scored twice in stoppage time to come from behind and beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the 1999 final.
UEFA's decision comes as Camp Nou is also considered a potential venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup final. The tournament will be staged primarily in Spain, Portugal and Morocco, with Camp Nou's planned capacity exceeding that of the Santiago Bernabeu by more than 20,000. ■
