Prarthana Hazarika
Budapest, Nov 29: When I received an official invitation from Hungary Sports Journalist Association on the first week of November 2025 to attend Sport Forum Hungary 2025 International Sports Industry Conference the first thing that struck to my mind was the Puskas Arena. Well, Football lovers across the globe have always showered love and respect to the great ambassador of the sport. Hungarians too are proud of this legend and simply love saying the land of PUSKAS.
Nevertheless, I happened to visit the PUSKAS ARENA on the 18th November 2025 with my counterparts from Algeria, Panama, Colombia, Taiwan, Azerbaijan and Slovakia. AIPS Vice President and renowned senior sports journalist Dr Zsuzsa Csisztu took us to this enchanting place. We were then introduced to the President of the Hungarian Sports Journalist Association Mr Gyoroy Szollosi who took the charge of giving us an insight of the entire history of Ferenc Puskas’s football journey. I was amazed to see how the arena has a four floor museum dedicated to the great Puskas. A lot of his trophies and memorabilia were displayed in the museum. The most interesting part in the museum was the football commentary during the display of his early days that gives you the feeling of actually being in that era. The noise the crowd you could feel history in the walls of the arena.
So what is that makes this arena so special for football lovers?
Gyoroy : The history of this stadium is very special because Ferenc Puskas was himself involved in building this stadium in the early 50’s he was playing in the opening game and was unbeaten as the captain of Hungary with 85 games for national team. The Hungary national team won the gold medal in Helsinki Olympics and World Cup silver medal in Switzerland 1954. Then the Hungarian revolution came in 1956 and this historic turning point changed his personal and his professional lfe because he left Hungary he was suspended by FIFA for two years and he started a new life as a player of Real Madrid in Madrid in 1958. He was over 30 but he played for another 9 years for Real Madrid, the greatest team of all time.
Tell me something about the new stadium?
Well, this new stadium hosted Barcelona, Manchester City, Juventus, Uruguay, Germany, Holland, England, Italy, almost all the football nations and clubs but re hosted Europa League final and UEFA Super Cup game as well but the greatest game will be the Champions League final to be played in 30 May in 2026.
How are you all (Hungary) getting ready for the big day?
The season has started and at this moment lot of great European Teams are fighting to reach the final in next May and we will organize a lot of programs until that because this is the home the Champions League final and football games, family events and lot of very special different events will be organized until next May till the final reaches the Puskas Arena. Frenc Puskas was himself a great personality because he won three times European Cupa as a Real Madrid player, he was the top scorer of Champions League and he also scored four goals in the final in 1960 which is an unbreakable record so far.
So what about the fans who might not be able to get a glimpse of the final in the Puskas Arena?
There will be other event day before the final with former football players in the Sports Hall next to Puskas Arena. That will be another fantastic football show and football fans can enjoy that game. We want to see football fans and supporters from India too. We would like to welcome the football fans from India to the Champions League final here in the Puskas Arena.
Puskas Arena isn’t just a modern stadium, it is a testimony to history, passion and the enduring spirit of football.
