Paris erupts in celebration with fireworks and arrests after PSG’s back-to-back Champions League win

Joyous crowds, thunderous chants, and the crackling of fireworks lit up the Parisian night as Paris Saint-Germain secured their second consecutive UEFA Champions League title. The victory, clinched in a dramatic penalty shootout against Arsenal, sent shockwaves of euphoria through the city, though not without its share of tumult.

a night of contrasts: triumph and tension

The final whistle at Budapest’s Puskás Aréna sparked an immediate outpouring of emotion. Fans on the Grands Boulevards and Champs-Élysées erupted into chants of “Sa-fo-nov,” “Après tant d’années,” and “Et Ousmane Ballon d’Or”, their voices drowning out the celebratory fireworks that punctuated every successful penalty. Yet beneath the jubilation lay a palpable tension as police forces moved swiftly to maintain order.

Tensions flared when a Brazilian player’s missed penalty left supporters in collective anguish. The moment the ball sailed over the crossbar, panic spread through the crowd. Shouts of disbelief turned to desperate scrambles as police deployed tear gas, sending revelers into a frenzied retreat to shield their faces from the acrid fumes.

131 arrests: a calmer aftermath compared to 2025

By the time the dust settled, authorities had made 131 arrests—a figure nearly four times lower than the previous year, when 559 detentions were recorded after PSG’s victory over Inter Milan. Despite the reduced number, the night was far from peaceful. Police vehicles patrolled the Montmartre boulevard well past midnight, a stark reminder of the chaos that had unfolded hours earlier.

The Champs-Élysées, though cordoned off and subjected to rigorous checks, still bore the scars of unbridled celebration. Fireworks and firecrackers, smuggled past security in staggering quantities, painted the sky in vibrant hues while small groups of supporters gathered to sing and dance. Each reunion was short-lived, disrupted by the sudden charge of riot police dispersing the crowd with stern warnings and more tear gas volleys.

the heat, the crowd, and the unyielding spirit

The sweltering 37-degree heat that had blanketed Paris all afternoon did little to dampen the spirits of the 20,000-strong gathering. Some supporters, like Benji, a lifelong fan, noted the relative calm compared to last year. “There was less stress this time. We’ve been through this before,” he remarked, though the lingering presence of armored police vehicles told another story.

Vendors had already been capitalizing on the excitement for weeks, with mortar shells and firecrackers readily available on social media platforms. By evening, the acrid scent of gunpowder mingled with tear gas in the air, as an elderly man wiped his stinging eyes and turned to his neighbor. “I suppose it must mean the PSG have won,” he quipped, a wry smile on his face. There was no doubt about it.

a city transformed: from anticipation to euphoria

Paris had been preparing for this night long before the match began. Hours before kickoff, the streets were already teeming with supporters draped in the club’s colors, their conversations dominated by predictions and nostalgic reflections. Some, like an elderly man in Ivry-sur-Seine, had chosen to watch the game from home. “I’d rather stay in and avoid ending up in custody for no good reason,” he admitted with a chuckle.

The atmosphere was electric, a far cry from the subdued gatherings of past years. The streets, usually quiet, buzzed with an energy that had not been seen since France’s 2018 World Cup triumph. As the final minutes ticked away, the anticipation grew unbearable, culminating in a collective roar as the decisive penalty found the back of the net.

With the trophy secured, the celebrations spilled into the early hours of the morning. Yet, even as the city revelled in its newfound glory, the shadow of the previous year’s chaos loomed large—a reminder that triumph and turmoil often walk hand in hand in the world of football.