The UEFA Europa League champion for the 2025-2026 season will be determined in Istanbul, where the final between German side Freiburg and English team Aston Villa will be played. The match will kick off at 10:00 PM local time at Tüpraş Stadium. The French referee François Letexier will officiate the game, with Cyril Mugnier and Mehdi Rahmouni as his assistants. Jerome Brisard will be the video assistant referee, and Alejandro Hernandez will be the fourth official.

Aston Villa and Freiburg will both be participating in their first Europa League final. Aston Villa finished second in the group stage with an impressive record, scoring 21 points from 8 matches, including 7 wins and just 1 loss. They reached the final by defeating Lille, Bologna, and Nottingham Forest in the knockout rounds. Freiburg secured their place in the final by defeating Genk, Celta Vigo, and Braga. In the group stage, Freiburg finished seventh with 17 points, winning 5 matches and drawing 2.

ASTON VILLA MAKING HISTORY

Aston Villa, a significant English club, returns to an UEFA final after a 44-year absence. In 1982, Aston Villa triumphed over Bayern Munich in the European Cup final, securing their place in history. They followed that success with a victory in the UEFA Super Cup.

FREIBURG'S HISTORIC MOMENT

This final will mark a significant milestone for Freiburg, which has never won a Bundesliga or German Cup (DFB-Pokal) title. The club has risen through the ranks, winning the second division four times and reaching the German Cup final once.

ISTANBUL HOSTS UEFA FINAL

Hosting the UEFA Europa League final at Tüpraş Stadium, Istanbul will play host to its fifth UEFA final. The city has previously hosted two UEFA Champions League finals, one UEFA Cup final, and one UEFA Super Cup.

UEFA CUP'S FINAL STANDS IN ISTANBUL

In 2009, Istanbul hosted the final of the UEFA Cup, the predecessor to the UEFA Europa League. The city played a crucial role in the transition of this competition.