Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Freiburg and Aston Villa will face off in the 2026 UEFA Europa League final, marking their first meeting at this stage. Freiburg has reached its first continental final, while Aston Villa last appeared in a UEFA final in 1982. Aston Villa is coached by Unai Emery, who has won the competition four times with Sevilla and Villarreal, and was a finalist with Arsenal in 2018/19.
The final is scheduled for Wednesday, 20 May 2026, at Beşiktaş Park in Istanbul, Türkiye, with kick-off at 21:00 CET. The stadium, which hosted the 2019 UEFA Super Cup, seats approximately 40,000 and is home to Beşiktaş, a 16-time Turkish Super League champion.
If the match is level after 90 minutes, two 15-minute periods of extra time will be played, followed by a penalty shoot-out if needed.
The Europa League trophy weighs 15 kilograms and has no handles. The winner of the 2025/26 tournament will also qualify for the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase, provided they have not qualified via their domestic league.