Kiev's Olympic Stadium to host 2018 Champions League final

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The 2018 Champions League final will be played in Ukraine's capital Kiev just weeks before neighboring Russia hosts the World Cup.

UEFA's executive committee confirmed Thursday that Kiev's 70,000-capacity Olympic Stadium will stage its highest-profile club match on May 26, 2018.

One barrier to awarding the 2018 final to Kiev had been potential visa problems for Russian officials and guests from Champions League sponsor Gazprom.

Russia annexed the Crimea region of Ukraine in early 2014. UEFA has blocked Russian and Ukrainian national and club teams being drawn together in competitions since July 2014.

UEFA also decided that the Super Cup between the Champions League and Europa League winners will be on Aug. 14, 2018 in the Lillekula stadium in Tallinn, which has a capacity around 10,000.

The French city of Lyon is in talks to host the 2018 Europa League final but tax and security issues still need to be settled.