FAI Submits Bid to Host 2029 Women’s Champions League Final at Aviva Stadium

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has submitted a preliminary bid to host the 2029 Women’s Champions League final at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Dublin was formally put forward as a potential host city after the FAI submitted an expression of interest to UEFA in October. The association believes it is in a strong position to stage the final, citing the rapid growth and popularity of women’s football in the Republic of Ireland.

In preparation for the bid, the FAI has been working closely with Aviva Stadium officials, Dublin City Council and the Irish government’s department of culture, communications and sport to assess the feasibility, costs and long-term legacy of hosting the showpiece event.

Interest in women’s football has surged in Ireland in recent years, highlighted by the Republic of Ireland’s qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia. Captain Katie McCabe has also played a prominent role on the European stage, captaining Arsenal to Champions League success in May with a 1-0 victory over Barcelona in Lisbon.

The Aviva Stadium faces competition from several other venues. Cardiff’s Principality Stadium is among the rival bids for the 2029 final, while Lyon’s Parc Olympique Lyonnais and St. Jakob-Park in Basel have expressed interest in hosting either the 2028 or 2029 finals.

Final bids must be submitted by June, with UEFA expected to confirm the host venue in September.

Aviva Stadium has previous experience hosting major European finals, having staged the men’s Europa League final in 2011 and 2024, and is also set to be used during Euro 2028.