France has deployed emergency police nationwide ahead of the PSG vs Arsenal final.

With the chaotic scenes from last year still fresh in mind, France is now rolling out a security campaign of a scale never seen before for the Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal.

The atmosphere before the 2025/26 Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal (23:00 on May 30) is heating up by the hour, not only because of the sporting stakes but also due to security concerns across France. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that around 22,000 police officers will be deployed over the weekend to maintain order and prevent possible violence when fans take to the streets to watch the match.

According to French media, Paris alone will see 8,000 police officers on duty on the night of the final. Key areas such as the Champs-Élysées and the area around the Parc des Princes will be under special surveillance. These are the same locations that witnessed massive unrest after PSG's historic Champions League triumph last season, and French authorities are especially worried about a repeat scenario.

Speaking to Brut news outlet, Mr. Laurent Nunez stated: "Out of the 22,000 officers deployed for Saturday's match, 8,000 will be stationed in the capital Paris." This figure highlights the serious threat assessment by French authorities regarding security risks on final night. Last season, even after mobilizing 5,400 police in the Paris metropolitan area, France still recorded 563 arrests in a single night.

Among last year's arrests, Paris alone accounted for 491 cases. Not stopping there, another 79 people were arrested the following evening. The violent images around the Champs-Élysées and the Parc des Princes area placed heavy pressure on the French authorities to ensure security for large-scale football events. Therefore, this time's plan has been prepared with far greater rigor.

On the professional side, this year's final is also seen as a reunion full of history between PSG and Arsenal. The French side enters the match as the reigning Champions League champion after demolishing Inter Milan 5-0 in last season's final. Coach Luis Enrique's team continued to show their strength by overcoming Bayern Munich with a 6-5 aggregate in the semi-finals to earn a place in Budapest.

Meanwhile, Arsenal marks their first return to the Champions League final since the 2005/06 season after beating Atletico Madrid 2-1 on aggregate. The match between the champions of England and France will kick off at 23:00 on May 30, 2026, Vietnam time at the Puskas Arena in Hungary. However, before the ball starts rolling, what concerns France most right now is not just the European silver trophy, but rather keeping the final night from turning into street chaos.