Champions League final: Linkin Park to headline kick off show in Munich

American rock band Linkin Park will bring the roof down as the best football teams square it out during the European Champions League final on May 31 in Munich.

UEFA revealed that The Grammy award-winning band from California, who are making a comeback after a seven-year hiatus due to the loss of their front man Chester Bennington, will headline the Kick Off Show at Munich's arena. 

Their performance is scheduled for the halftime of this year's newly formatted Club World Cup final in the United States.

“With our new album and ongoing tour, we’ve been overwhelmed by the fans’ energy and excitement. We can’t wait to share that same energy and excitement at the Uefa Champions League Final Kick Off Show presented by Pepsi,” they stated.

They added, “This marks a totally new experience for us as a band and we’re excited to share some of our favourite songs from the past and present, with the thousands in the crowd and millions watching around the world.”

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Linkin Park formed in 1996 and have released eight studio albums but had taken a sabbatical following the death of Chester and their latest work, From Zero, released in November and was their first since with their new female vocalist Emily Armstrong.

Last year saw rock icon Lenny Kravitz play ahead of Real Madrid’s 2-0 final win over Borussia Dortmund.

This year’s stage is set to be lit with teams which will qualify from the semifinals, with the Arsenal set to face French giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). 
Inter Milan from Italy will be squaring off against Spanish side Barcelona. 

PSG has found itself in the limelight as activists and some opposition leaders in Congo urge the French football club to terminate its sponsorship agreement with Rwanda. 
The club recently extended its partnership with Visit Rwanda, the nation’s tourism brand, through 2028. 

This collaboration, which started in 2019, has faced backlash due to Rwanda's purported role in the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.