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Budapest gears up for massive security and transport operation before Champions League final
27th May, 2026 05:13 PM
Hungarian authorities are putting final touches on one of the country’s biggest-ever policing and transport coordination exercises as the UEFA Champions League final between Arsenal and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain approaches this Saturday, May 30, 2026, at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
Close to 4,000 police personnel are expected to be stationed throughout the city, while officials anticipate roughly 100,000 travelling supporters, close to 800 aircraft movements, increased public transport schedules, and tighter traffic regulations as Budapest prepares for what has been labelled a “high-risk” occasion.
Large crowds
During a joint media briefing on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, Hungary’s deputy national police chief, Zoltan Janos Kuczik, revealed that both PSG and Arsenal fans had bought more than 17,000 tickets each for the showdown. Authorities also expect thousands of additional supporters to arrive in the Hungarian capital despite not having match tickets.
According to Kuczik, preparations for the event have been ongoing for over a year. Hungarian security agencies have coordinated closely with counterparts in both London and Paris, while officers were also sent to Munich and other Champions League fixtures earlier in the season to study matchday security arrangements.
Kuczik described the operation as the most extensive one-day police mobilization ever undertaken in Hungary.
“This will be the largest single-day police deployment in Hungary’s history,” Kuczik said.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Football Federation international and organizational affairs director Vilmos Szabo stated that besides the official Champions Festival and the fan area around Heroes’ Square, dedicated supporter zones for Arsenal and PSG fans had also been created to help minimize potential security concerns.
Budapest Airport deputy CEO for corporate communications and government relations, Katalin Valentinyi, noted that the airport is preparing for nearly 2,000 flight operations and an estimated 250,000 passengers between Friday, May 29, 2026 and Sunday, May 31, 2026, nearly twice the usual traffic levels.
The Champions League final between Arsenal and PSG is scheduled to begin at 18:00 CEST on Saturday at Puskás Aréna.
