French club Brest, set to make its European debut next season, will not play Champions League home games at its 102-year-old Stade Francis-Le Blé. UEFA announced on Wednesday that Brest has requested to use the 19,000-seat Roudourou stadium of its nearby Brittany neighbor, Guingamp, for the four home games. This decision is due to the Stade Francis-Le Blé’s inability to meet UEFA standards, with only 5,000 of its 15,200 seats considered suitable for Champions League fixtures.
The shift to Guingamp’s stadium comes as part of a significant revamp of the Champions League format, which will expand to a 36-team league phase, replacing the traditional group stage. Brest, finishing third in Ligue 1 behind Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco, has secured a direct entry into this new phase. This marks Brest’s first-ever qualification for a UEFA competition, a historic achievement facilitated by the expansion and France’s domestic league ranking.
The Stade Francis-Le Blé, while rich in history, is not modern enough to host high-profile Champions League matches. The Roudourou stadium, located approximately 110 kilometers east of Brest, is currently under UEFA review for approval. This change ensures that Brest meets the necessary standards for its home games in the prestigious competition.
Brest’s entry into the Champions League is set to be financially rewarding, with the club guaranteed at least 30 million euros (USD 32 million) in prize money, even if it loses all eight games. The team will be placed in the lowest-ranked seeding pot for the August 29 draw in Monaco, looking forward to competing against some of Europe’s elite clubs.