UEFA TO HONOUR NEPAL FLOOD VICTIMS BEFORE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE MATCHES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, will honour victims of the devastating flash floods that struck Nepal on August 26, 2026, with a moment of silence before all UEFA Champions League matches scheduled for this week.

According to a statement published on UEFA’s website on Monday, a solidarity banner bearing the message, “You are not alone Nepal,” will also be displayed before the matches.

UEFA said the tribute was intended to express solidarity with those affected by the disaster and demonstrate support for the people of Nepal as they recover from the tragedy.

UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin said the European football community would stand with the victims and their families.

“The entire European football family will stand together before this week’s matches to express our deepest condolences and our support to the people of Nepal.

“We wish them strength and resilience as they continue to recover from this tragedy and its aftermath,” Čeferin said.

The 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 8, with 36 clubs set to compete under the competition’s single-league format.

The league phase will feature 144 matches across eight matchdays, with teams competing for positions that will determine their routes into the knockout stage. The final is scheduled to take place in Madrid on June 5, 2027.

The UEFA tribute comes as Nepal continues to mourn victims of the August 26 glacial and mountain collapse on the China-Nepal border.

The disaster reportedly killed at least 1,398 people, while more than 5,500 others remained missing, including about 800 foreigners.

Nepal observed a national day of mourning on Monday, with flags flown at half-mast and candlelight vigils planned as families continued to await news of missing relatives.

Among those feared trapped were hydropower workers, with rescue teams continuing efforts to locate survivors in tunnels and other affected areas.

The national mourning marked the 13th day since the disaster, in accordance with Hindu mourning rituals.