London is set to host more UEFA Champions League football than usual this season, with Italian club Fiorentina confirmed to play their home group-stage matches at Wembley Stadium rather than their own Stadio Artemio Franchi.

The Florence-based club's historic ground is currently undergoing a major renovation project, leaving Fiorentina without a suitable home venue capable of meeting UEFA's strict stadium requirements for the competition.

Why Wembley?

With their own stadium unavailable, Fiorentina turned to one of Europe's most iconic venues as a temporary solution. Wembley Stadium — with its 90,000 capacity — comfortably satisfies UEFA's infrastructure demands, making it the logical choice for the club's European home games.

The arrangement means that supporters travelling to watch Fiorentina's Champions League home fixtures will be making the trip to north-west London rather than the Italian city of Florence. It is a remarkable situation, seeing a club from Serie A effectively staging their home European matches in a foreign country.

Arsenal still London's primary Champions League hosts

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium remains the primary London venue associated with the UEFA Champions League this season, with the Gunners competing in the competition in their own right. However, Fiorentina's presence at Wembley adds an unusual international dimension to the capital's European football calendar.

London fans will have two distinct Champions League experiences on offer — the familiar north London atmosphere at the Emirates, and the grand theatrical setting of Wembley for a visiting Italian side making the most of extraordinary circumstances.