UEFA ropes in Hyundai as new Champions League partner
The Union of European Football Associations has announced a multi-year partnership with Hyundai Motor Company, bringing it on board as the Official Automotive Partner of the UEFA Champions League.
The partnership kicks off with the 2026/27 edition of the Champions League and will run until the end of its 2030/31 edition. It will entail UEFA and Hyundai working together to “bring people together across cultures and communities throughout Europe, uniting millions of football fans while delivering a positive impact for society.”
Hyundai’s IONIQ 3 is set to be the first and one of the five major models the brand will launch in Europe during the 2026/27 season, and the first to represent the brand in the partnership.
Guy-Laurent Epstein, Co-Managing Director, UC3 (the joint venture between UEFA and European Football Clubs), said:
“We are delighted to welcome Hyundai as an official partner of the UEFA Champions League. Hyundai has a proud history of supporting football at the highest level and a clear belief in its power to bring people together. We look forward to building a partnership that brings that shared ambition to life for fans around the world over the coming years.”
José Muñoz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hyundai Motor Company, commented:
“Football has been part of Hyundai for almost 30 years. It brings people together like almost nothing else, across languages and borders and generations. The UEFA Champions League is the best club football in the world, played every week in front of the most passionate fans in Europe. Following Hyundai’s engagement at the World Cup this summer, the UEFA Champions League is an ideal platform to show our beautifully designed vehicles with features fans love. I am from Madrid, so I have watched this competition my whole life. I’m personally excited about engaging with fans across Europe. It’s a great time to celebrate the beautiful game with Hyundai.”
Xavier Martinet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Motor Europe, added:
“The UEFA Champions League and Hyundai are both driven by progress, performance, and the ambition to bring people together. We are entering this partnership with our strongest line-up yet. IONIQ 3 is the first of five new models we are launching in Europe this season, designed and developed for our customers here in the region, and it is the car that leads our lineup for the future.”
