OFFENBACH, Germany – September 11, 2026 -- Hyundai Motor Company has signed a multi-year agreement to become the Official Automotive Partner of the UEFA Champions League, a deal running from the 2026/27 season through the end of 2030/31. The partnership was concluded through UC3, UEFA's joint venture with European football clubs.
Hyundai extends nearly 30 years of football sponsorship to Europe's top club competition
The agreement follows Hyundai's engagement at this summer's World Cup and adds the 36-club UEFA Champions League to a sponsorship portfolio the company says spans international tournaments, clubs and associations worldwide. UEFA describes the competition as the world's most-watched annual club football event, with roughly one in three people globally expressing interest in it.
IONIQ 3 becomes the first model to represent Hyundai in the deal
The all-electric IONIQ 3 compact hatchback is the opening model tied to the partnership and the first of five new vehicles Hyundai plans to launch in Europe during the 2026/27 season. Designed in Europe for European customers, the IONIQ 3 debuted at Milan Design Week and became the first battery-electric vehicle produced at Hyundai's İzmit plant in Türkiye, with manufacturing starting in August 2026.
IONIQ 3 targets Europe's compact segment with a 497 km WLTP range
The Aero Hatch model posts a drag coefficient of 0.263 Cd, up to 497 km of WLTP range, and 441 liters of trunk volume. It features a 14.6-inch display running Hyundai's PLEOS Connect infotainment system, positioned by the company as class-leading in the segment.
Hyundai frames the deal around parallel global-to-local operating models
José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said the UEFA Champions League offers a platform to showcase the brand's vehicles to Europe's football audience. "The UEFA Champions League is the best club football in the world, played every week in front of the most passionate fans in Europe,