NO trophy in European club football is bigger than the Champions League - and hosting the final has become a badge of honour for most cities.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine forced UEFA chiefs to strip St. Petersburg's Gazprom Arena of earning the rights to host it last season.
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Ataturk Olympic Stadium will host the 2023 Champions League finalCredit: GettyResulting in the mantle being passed on to Stade de France in Saint-Denis.
But when is the Champions League final and where is it being held?
When is the 2023 Champions League final?
The final of club football's top-tier European tournament will take place on Saturday, June 10, 2023.
However, the group stages of the Champions League get underway on Tuesday, September 14, 2022.
This will be the 68th season of the competition and the 31st since it was renamed from the European Cup to the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid secured their record-breaking 14th triumph in the 2022 final courtesy of Vinicius Jr' 59th-minute strike against Liverpool.
Pre-match build-up and the kick-off times will be confirmed closer to the date.
Where is the 2023 Champions League final being held?
Istanbul, Turkiye has won the rights to host the 2023 Champions League final.
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Liverpool incredibly beat AC Milan in the last final held at Ataturk Olympic StadiumCredit: PA:Press AssociationThe huge fixture will be played at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium and it boasts a seated capacity of approximately 75,000 supporters.
One of the most iconic Champions League finals was played at this stadium which saw Liverpool pull off a sensational comeback against AC Milan before beating them on penalties.
Ataturk Olympic Stadium opened in 2002 and was built to support Turkey's bid to stage the 2008 Olympic Games but it lost out to Beijing National Stadium in China.
However, the Turkey national team uses Ataturk Olympic Stadium as their home venue.
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What do the 2023 Champions League winners get?
Winners of the final will be granted a guaranteed place in the 2023/2024 Champions League competition.
A chance to win the Club World Cup against other teams across the globe.
And they will take on the winners of the Europa League for a chance to secure the UEFA Super Cup just before the new season gets underway.
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Real Madrid won the Champions League last season after beating LiverpoolCredit: GettyWho has won the Champions League the most?
Real Madrid - 14
AC Milan - 7
Liverpool - 6
Bayern Munich - 6
Barcelona - 5
Ajax - 4
Manchester United and Inter Milan - 3
Benfica, Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Porto - 2
The UEFA Champions League is one of the most demanding competitions in world football and the road to the final is full of obstacles, especially in a season disrupted by a World Cup.
When and where the 2022-23 Champions League final is played
The venue for this year’s final has already been selected and will take place on 10 June 2023, a little later than usual because of the World Cup in Qatar.
The Champions League final will be played in the stadium where one of the best finals in the history of the competition took place: the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. The stadium, which was completed in 2022, commemorates the founder and first president of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
The 76,092-capacity stadium, located in Istanbul, is well known to all football fans, especially fans of Liverpool and AC Milan, who played in the thrilling 2005 final.
Liverpool and Milan final goes down in history
In 2005, Liverpool produced one of the most famous comebacks in recent times. Milan were three ahead. Paolo Maldini and a brace from Hernan Crespo gave the team coached by Carlo Ancelotti a very comfortable half-time lead, or so they thought.
An inspired Rafa Benítez speech at half-time helped the Merseysiders pull off one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history. StevenGerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso, after missing a penalty, levelled the match, leaving a Milan side who were almost certain to win the final on the ropes.
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The Atatürk Stadium, in Turkey, venue for the Champions League final.OZAN KOSEAFPIt all came down to the penalty shootout, with Liverpool keeping their cool to knock out one of the best teams of the 21st century.
Jerzy Dudek was the hero on the night. Thanks to his saves in the decisive shootout, Liverpool became Champions League winners and Gerrard lifted the trophy on a famous night in Istanbul.
Atatürk missed out on 2020 final
The Atatürk Stadium was down to host the 2020 Champions League final, however, due to the covid-19 pandemic, the match was moved to Lisbon, where Bayern defeated PSG in the final.
Real Madrid in search of a 15th Champions League title
Among the 16 teams in the last 16 will be Real Madrid. Madrid, who have come through the first round brilliantly, will be looking for back-to-back success in the Champions League after beating Liverpool in May.
Los Blancos are looking to continue breaking records in the competition. They have won 14 Champions League titles, and will be hoping to go one better in 2023. The Atatürk is where they want to be next June.