ACF Fiorentina v West Ham United
UEFA Europa Conference League final, Eden Aréna, Prague, Czechia, Wednesday 7 June 2023, 8pm BST (9pm CEST)
West Ham United’s 2022/23 European tour concludes with the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) final with ACF Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday evening.
The Hammers have travelled 11,156 miles to Denmark (twice), Belgium (twice), Romania, Cyprus, the Netherlands and now Czechia in pursuit of a second major European trophy in the Club's 128-year history.
The first was the European Cup Winners' Cup, which two goals from winger Alan Sealey secured when West Ham defeated West German opponents TSV 1860 Munich at Wembley in May 1965.
Winning the UECL would also mark the first major competition won by the Irons since Sir Trevor Brooking's header saw John Lyall's then-Second Division side defeat Arsenal to lift the FA Cup at Wembley in May 1980.
David Moyes' squad have won 13 of their 14 ties in this season's UECL, defeating Cypriots AEK Larnaca (6-0 on aggregate) in the round of 16, Belgian Cup holders KAA Gent (5-2) in the quarter-finals and Dutch opponents AZ Alkmaar (3-1) in the semi-finals. Those victories followed a record-setting perfect six wins from six in the group stage as Danes Silkeborg IF, Romanians FCSB and Gent’s fellow Belgians RSC Anderlecht were all seen off. And way back in August, Danes Viborg FF were defeated 6-1 on aggregate in the play-off round.
Vincenzo Italiano's Fiorentina finished seventh in Serie A last season and have had an even longer route to the final than the Hammers, in terms of both matches played and distance travelled. La Viola have been to the Netherlands, Scotland, Turkey (twice), Latvia, Portugal, Poland and Switzerland, and played 16 ties on their way to Czechia.
Tickets…
Tickets for the UECL final sold out to Bondholders and Season Ticket Holders with 24 or more Loyalty Points. For full ticketing information, click here.
In Prague...
West Ham United supporters will be gathering at the Fan Meeting Point in Letná Park from 12noon on Wednesday 7 June for pre-match celebrations ahead of our UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina – with live entertainment, food, drink and more to enjoy.
The area is open to ALL fans, regardless of whether you have a ticket for the final or not.
Furthermore, a public viewing of the match on multiple LED screens will be organised in the Fan Meeting Point for Hammers supporters who are in Prague on matchday but are not going to the game.
Click here for full information about the Fan Meeting Point.
For information on travel from the Fan Meeting Point to the Eden Aréna, please click here.
For more information about the UEFA Europa Conference League Final, supporters should download the UEFA Europa App or check out the official Event Guide on UEFA.com.
Travel...
Many optimistic West Ham United supporters booked their flights to Prague many weeks and months ago, hoping their team would successfully negotiate their way through the competition – and they have now been rewarded.
As a result, many flights to the Czech capital are now full and prices for those with remaining availability have risen.
The stadium is situated in the Vršovice district of Prague, in the south east of the city.
Public transport is the best way to get around on matchday and will be free for all ticket holders from 8am on Wednesday 7 June to 8am on Thursday 8 June. The following services are included:
- All DPP-operated buses, trams, and metro services
- Suburban trains within Zone P0 (only on matchday)
Simply show your mobile match ticket upon request by public transport staff.
From the Fan Meeting Point, take metro line A to Želivského. From there, it is a 20-minute (downhill) walk to Eden Arena.
A free shuttle bus service will also be available for West Ham supporters from the airport to the Fan Meeting Point on matchday.
Taxi travel is not recommended, but if this is your only option, rideshare services (Uber or Bolt) are more widely available than taxis.
Supporters with an organised travel package should head back to the Fan Meeting Point after the match to catch your coach back to the airport.
If your charter flight is scheduled to depart right after the match, please confirm with your tour operator that a coach from the stadium to the airport has been booked for you instead.
For full information on how to get to and from Eden Arena from Prague city centre, click here.
How to Follow...
Thursday's tie will be broadcast live in the UK by BT Sport 1, with kick-off at 8pm BST (9pm CEST).
You can also follow the action via our live blog on whufc.com and our app and across our social media channels. We will also have highlights and exclusive reaction for you after the final whistle.
Team News...
West Ham United will be without Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca (knee), but otherwise have a fully-fit squad.
ACF Fiorentina are also without just one player, veteran Italian goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu, who has a long-term Achilles injury..
UECL Final Information...
Goal Line Technology and VAR will be in operation for the final.
Up to 12 substitutes can be named by each manager. Five substitutes are permitted to be used on three occasions, plus half-time. There are no additional ‘concussion substitutes’ available in UEFA Club Competition. In the event that the final goes to extra-time, then a sixth substitute and an additional substitution opportunity is available.
Disciplinary-wise, all accumulated yellow cards expired upon completion of the quarter-finals and no players on either side are suspended for the final.
If the score is level at the end of normal time, two 15-minute periods of extra-time are played. If the score is still level after extra-time, the winner is determined by kicks from the penalty mark.
Opposition...
The history of Associazione Calcio Fiorentina dates back nearly 100 years and is one which has featured a number of notable highs and lows.
ACF Fiorentina was founded in 1926 by the merger of two local clubs, Club Sportivo Firenze and Palestra Ginnastica Fiorentina Libertas.
The new club would lift its first major trophy in 1940, the Coppa Italia, before winning the Serie A title – also known as the Scudetto – in 1955/56, when they romped to the championship by a 12-point margin. The following season, 1956/57, Fiorentina reached the European Cup final, but were beaten by Real Madrid.
European glory was not far away though, as Fiorentina won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1960/61, defeating Rangers in the final. The same season saw La Viola (The Violets) win a second Coppa Italia, having finished as runners-up the previous season and qualified as winners Juventus had also won the Scudetto.
The titles continued to flow to Florence in the shape of a second Scudetto in 1969 and two more Coppa Italia in 1966 and 1975.
The late 1980s and 1990s saw Fiorentina sign some outstanding players, including Roberto Baggio, Dunga, Gabriel Batistuta and Rui Costa, reach the 1990 UEFA Cup final, where they were edged out by Juventus, and win the Coppa Italia twice more, in 1996 and 2001.
In 2002, ACF Fiorentina was declared bankrupt and a phoenix club, Fiorentina Viola, was created in its place, was renamed ACF Fiorentina in 2003 and immediately won back-to-back promotions to Serie A by 2004/05!
Fiorentina have been in Serie A ever since and have mounted a number of strong challenges, finishing fourth on five occasions since 2007/08, and also regularly reached the latter stages of the Coppa Italia, but have not won a major trophy in 22 years.
Previous Meetings….
West Ham United and ACF Fiorentina have met just once previously, in the 1975 Anglo-Italian Cup, which saw the winners of England and Italy's domestic cup competitions square-off over two legs.
Fiorentina won both 1-0 to secure a 2-0 aggregate victory, which you can read more about here.
Match Officials…
Referee: Carlos Del Cerro Grande (Spain)
Assistant Referees: Pau Cebrián Devis (Spain) & Guadalupe Porras Ayuso (Spain)
Fourth Official: Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain)
VAR: Juan Martínez Munuera (Spain)
Assistant VAR: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández (Spain)
Wednesday's final will be refereed by Spaniard Carlos Del Cerro Grande.
The 47-year-old has been officiating in Spanish football since 2000, rising to La Liga in 2011.
He has also been on the FIFA International Referees List since 2013 and officiated at UEFA Euro 2020 in England.
This season, he has refereed UEFA Champions League ties involving Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, 21 La Liga matches, as well as last June's UEFA Nations League tie between Germany and England.
