Big screenings, louder screams: Inside the PSG vs Arsenal Champions League final watch parties

On Saturday night, all eyes will be on Budapest’s Puskas Arena as Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC square off in the UEFA Champions League final. Yet nearly 6,000 km away, the football fever is just as palpable. From packed local sports bars to late-night terrace parties, fans across the city are locking in their weekend plans. Hyderabad Times finds out how they are gearing up for the ultimate showdown.‘PSG are winning this; Arsenal have no chance!’While many fans are heading to screenings across the city, some are turning the final into a house-party celebration with friends and family. “I’m planning an all-girls watch party for Saturday’s final at home, with my friends and cousins joining in for the game. We’ve already planned snacks and dinner, and everyone is really excited. To make it more fun, we decided that whoever is supporting Arsenal will bring red Coke cans or bottles, while the PSG supporters will bring blue ones matching their team colours. It’s going to be a mix of football, food and a lot of banter through the night. I’m backing PSG to win 3-0,” says Dr Preeti Raj.‘We try to keep these gatherings affordable for all’CJ Anish, admin of Arsenal Hyderabad and a finance professional, says the supporters’ group has been focused on making screenings accessible and community-driven for fans. “For matchday screenings, we try to keep things as feasible as possible for members of the group. Usually, there is a `500 cover charge which is fully redeemable, and we are planning to continue the same for the final as well,”he says.‘We’ve won the league; now it’s time for the Champions League’For many Arsenal supporters, the final is as much about the atmosphere and community as it is about the football itself. “It’s a Saturday night, so people are relaxed and in the mood to enjoy the weekend, and for football fans there’s probably no better way to spend it than watching the Champions League final with the city’s football community. Ever since Arsenal won the league title, there has been a real celebratory mood among fans in our group, and we are hoping the final gives us another reason to celebrate,” says Avinash Ranikindi, an IT professional.‘Saturday’s final is set to turn into a big football celebration night’ “Usually, fans start arriving almost two hours before kick-off and begin decorating the space with club flags, jerseys and scarves. Many fans also bring fancy speakers, and there’s often a DJ setup, which turns the venue into more of a celebration space for supporters. With fans of both the clubs and even neutral football lovers expected to turn up, we are anticipating a very energetic crowd filled with chants, banter and football conversations through the night,” says Beshetty Rahul, manager at a popular sports bar at Jubilee Hills.‘If Arsenal win, fans across the city will remember the night for a long time’“Usually, I watch at home or go to the screening venues in the city. What makes this final exciting is that it’s not just Arsenal or PSG supporters turning up — even neutral football fans are planning to watch because it’s the biggest game of the European season. If Arsenal win, it will obviously be a dream night for us fans, but overall it’s going to be a great occasion for football lovers in the city,” says Kiran Tallapragada, a marketing professional.‘As a Man United fan, we’ll be cheering for PSG in the final’“As a Manchester United fan, we obviously can’t support Arsenal in a Champions League final. I’m expecting PSG to win 2-1. A few of my friends who are also members of the city’s Manchester United fan club, have planned dinner and drinks at one of the screening venues, and we’ll be cheering a lot louder for every PSG goal,” says Prateek Chakrabarty, a marketing professional.‘Big turnout expected for the screenings’“We are planning to host screenings of the final at 2-3 venues across the city as we are expecting more than 400 Arsenal fans and also neutrals to join us for the occasion,” says Nuthan Reddy, a city-based content creator. He says the turnout and excitement around Arsenal screenings have grown noticeably this season because of the club’s impressive performances and memorable campaign. “This year we have seen a significant rise in numbers, with nearly 200 Arsenal supporters turning up regularly. The excitement is naturally higher because of the club’s journey to winning the Premier League after 22 years and also reaching the Champions League final,” he adds.— Biswajit Talukdar