European Club Football Season kick-off moved from Athens to Nyon!

Following a series of talks with the Greek authorities, UEFA today announced its decision to relocate the upcoming European Club Football Season Kick-Off from Athens, Greece, to Nyon, Switzerland, on October 1/2, 2020. The event comprises the draws for the group stage of the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, as well as the awards to the best players and coaches of the 2019/20 season.

In spite of the globally acknowledged effective handling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Greek authorities, all parties agreed that the top priority must remain public health and that it currently would not be possible to organise an event of such a size with guests in Athens, as it would violate public health restrictions and constraints regarding indoor events.

The events at UEFA Headquarters in Nyon – which will be broadcast across the globe – will take place behind closed doors (with no club representatives or media, but with awards winners) – as follows:

Thursday 1 October – 18:00CEST

• 2020/21 UEFA Champions League group stage draw and 2019/20 awards

Friday 2 October – 13.00CEST

• 2020/21 UEFA Europa League group stage draw and 2019/20 UEFA Europa League player of the season.

UEFA wishes to thank the Greek authorities and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Centre for their outstanding work and commitment in planning for the event. UEFA is looking forward to coming back to Greece for one of its future events in the coming years.