What Time Does Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal Start? Global Kickoff Times for the UEFA Champions League Semi-Final

The UEFA Champions League semi-finals are here. As the biggest club competition in world football reaches its thrilling conclusion, all eyes are on the highly anticipated Leg 1 matchup between Atlético Madrid and Arsenal.

While the game itself kicks off on Wednesday evening in Europe, the global appeal of this tournament means fans will be tuning in across vastly different time zones. Here is the full breakdown of the match schedule, the storylines heading into the fixture, and exactly when viewers around the world can expect to see kickoff.

American & European Broadcast Schedule

For viewers in Europe, the UK, and across the Americas, coverage will dominate Wednesday afternoon and evening. The official kickoff time for the first leg is set for:

• 12:00 p.m. PDT (Pacific Time)

• 3:00 p.m. EDT (Eastern Time)

• 8:00 p.m. BST (UK/Ireland)

• 9:00 p.m. CEST (Local time in Madrid)

The Stakes: Glory and Droughts on the Line

While the kickoff time dictates when you tune in, the narratives on the pitch are what make this fixture unmissable. Both clubs come into this semi-final carrying the weight of historical expectations and impressive domestic campaigns.

Atlético Madrid is currently battling in the upper echelons of the La Liga table, but their true obsession lies in Europe. Diego Simeone’s men have famously reached the Champions League final multiple times over the last decade, coming agonizingly close to lifting the trophy only to suffer heartbreak. They are desperate to finally secure the title that has eluded them for so long.

On the other side, Arsenal finds themselves fighting at the very top of the Premier League table. The Gunners have a rare and historic opportunity to secure a magnificent double—winning both the Premier League and the Champions League. However, history looms large; they have not won a domestic league title in over two decades and have never won the Champions League in their history.

Global Kickoff Times

Because start times are critical for fans tuning in worldwide, we have mapped out exactly when the referee will blow the starting whistle. For international fans, the 9:00 p.m. CEST start time falls into the afternoon in the Americas, and early Thursday morning for viewers in Asia and Oceania.

The following tables provide the confirmed start times for major cities across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific.

The Americas (Wednesday, April 29)

Europe, Africa & Middle East (Wednesday Night, April 29)

Asia & Pacific (Thursday Morning, April 30)

Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal details: Quick reference

Matchup Overview

• Teams: Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal (Semi-final · Leg 1 of 2)

• Date: Wednesday, April 29 (Europe/Americas) / Thursday, April 30 (Asia/Pacific)

• Time: 9:00 PM CEST / 8:00 PM BST / 3:00 PM EDT / 5:00 AM AEST

• Venue: Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid

Note: Leg 2 will be played the following week on Wednesday, May 6 (AEST) at the Emirates Stadium in London.