Marshmello To Headline Champions League Opening Ceremony

Music star Marshmello will headline the UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony presented by Pepsi, which will take place in Porto after European football’s governing body moved the match from Turkish city Istanbul.

The move was made following the qualification of Manchester City and Chelsea for the showpiece event, as well as the placement of Turkey on the UK government’s coronavirus ‘red list’, meaning mandatory hotel quarantine would have been needed for players and staff upon return. Portugal is currently on the government’s ‘green list’.

This will be the fifth year that the final of European football’s top tier club competition will stage an opening ceremony presented by the brand, which is an Official Partner of the tournament. The event – with an official launch (above) created by We Are Social Sport – aims to merge the worlds of music, entertainment and sport with a performance by some of the biggest musical acts in the business. 

It will take place about ten minutes before the start of the match.

“This really has been a year like no other,” said Marshmello. “I’m looking forward to giving my sport, music and pure entertainment fans a show like they have never seen. Thanks to Pepsi and UEFA, that is exactly what I am going to bring to the world – a performance that everyone can enjoy.”

Guy-Laurent Epstein, Marketing Director, UEFA added: “We are excited to be collaborating with Pepsi for another year, uniting music, entertainment and sport to delight fans all over the world.

“Our close partnership has had great success in bringing huge names and epic performances to the UEFA Champions League final, and we know that Marshmello will put on an unforgettable show.”

Meanwhile, Manchester City owner Sheikh Mansour will fund the flight and transfer costs for fans on the Official Club Trip to the match later this month.

The move was made to ease the financial burden on fans travelling to the game, and in the context of the financial pressures the pandemic has created.

In a statement, the club said: “Cognisant of how the pandemic has affected all Manchester City supporters and has created an increase in travel costs, Sheikh Mansour has sought to remove the most significant financial barrier to fans attending the final.

“The Covid-inflated costs, combined with necessary but expensive PCR testing, would have rendered the trip to the final unmanageable for many of those supporters lucky enough to qualify for a ticket. 

“Due to the necessary Covid related restrictions in place, the majority of fans wishing to attend the historic first final for the Club, are required to do so within a 24 – hour trip, meaning that His Highness’ initiative will fund the transport of several thousand City fans on the official travel package on the day of the final.”