The FAI has officially submitted its preliminary bid dossier to UEFA to host the 2029 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final, marking the latest step in Ireland’s growing ambition to stage major international football and other sporting events.
The submission follows a three-month exploratory and assessment process led by the FAI, working in close collaboration with Aviva Stadium, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and Dublin City Council. Together, the partners reviewed the full UEFA hosting requirements, with particular focus on delivery feasibility, financial considerations and the long-term legacy potential for women’s football in Ireland.
Central to the FAI’s confidence is Ireland’s recent and proven track record in delivering complex UEFA events.
Most notably, the successful staging of the UEFA Europa League Final at Aviva Stadium demonstrated the country’s operational capability, cross-agency coordination and capacity to welcome large international audiences. The 2024 final followed the earlier hosting of the competition’s showpiece in 2011, reinforcing Dublin’s credentials as a reliable host city for elite European football.
The Association believes that this experience, combined with the extensive planning and infrastructure work already underway ahead of UEFA EURO 2028, places Ireland in a strong position as the bidding process moves forward.
Preparations for EURO 2028 are already delivering benefits across event operations, transport planning, sustainability standards and stakeholder alignment, all of which are directly relevant to hosting a Women’s Champions League Final.
The bid is also underpinned by the continued growth of women’s and girls’ football across the country. Participation numbers, visibility and commercial interest have all increased in recent years, while attendance and broadcast figures for the Women’s Champions League continue to rise across Europe.
The FAI sees hosting the 28th final of Europe’s top women’s club competition as an opportunity to further accelerate that momentum domestically.
While the current submission represents a preliminary stage, the FAI confirmed it will continue to work closely with all partners in the coming months as the bid is refined. A final bid dossier is due to be submitted to UEFA in early June, after which the governing body will assess all candidate hosts before deciding on the 2029 final venue.
If successful, the event would represent another major chapter in Ireland’s evolving role on the European football stage and deliver a lasting boost to the women’s game at home.
Read More The Value of the 2024 Europa League Final for Dublin
Image Credit: Aviva Stadium
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