2026 Coupe de France Final Moved to May 22 at Stade de France Due to Transport Construction

The 2026 Coupe de France final has been officially rescheduled to Friday, May 22, at 9 PM and will be held at the Stade de France, continuing its tradition as the venue for nearly all finals since 1998. Originally planned for May 23, the date was advanced by one day because of construction work impacting public transportation, specifically the closure of RER lines B and D, which are key routes to the stadium.

The French Football Federation (FFF) highlighted the Stade de France as a symbol of neutrality and sports equity for the 108th final of the 109th competition edition. Alongside the main final, the Coupe Gambardella final will be played earlier that day at 5:15 PM, featuring semi-finalists Lens, Toulouse, Strasbourg, and Nice.

The semi-finals are set for April 21 and 22, with Lens playing Toulouse and Strasbourg facing Nice. Strasbourg could potentially feature in another final shortly after the Coupe de France final, the UEFA Europa Conference League final on May 27 in Leipzig, adding to the scheduling challenges.

FFD president Philippe Diallo explained the date change was necessary due to Grand Paris project construction affecting RER accessibility on May 23. This adjustment may also create broadcast conflicts, particularly for France Télévisions, which covers the Challenge Cup final the same evening.

With Olympique Lyonnais eliminated earlier in the quarter-finals by Lens, the semi-final line-up is now more focused, but the final match-ups remain uncertain. The FFF's decision ensures the final remains accessible to fans while preserving tradition and fairness at this iconic venue.