Dublin could yet host one of the biggest nights in European club football, with the Government agreeing to back the FAI bid to bring the 2029 Women’s Champions League final to the Aviva Stadium. It would be the first major international women’s football final held in Ireland, a detail that gives the story its own quiet weight.
Ministers signed off on support for the proposal this week after a memo from Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan. The FAI bid now goes forward against competition from Wales, France and Switzerland, with Dublin’s Aviva Stadium put forward as the venue.
What Dublin’s bid could mean
If the FAI bid succeeds, officials believe the final could bring between €8 million and €17 million in economic benefit, while supporting an estimated 150 to 300 jobs. The State’s projected hosting cost is put at about €3.25 million, covering areas such as transport, policing and stadium operations.
There is the wider picture too. Hosting the Women’s Champions League final in Dublin would put another major spotlight on the city after Ireland secured a role in Euro 2028. Ministers were told it could also boost tourism and help grow participation in women’s and girls’ football across the country.
The key points so far
- The Government has agreed to back the FAI bid.
- The proposed venue is the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
- Rival bids are expected from Wales, France and Switzerland.
- Estimated economic impact ranges from €8 million to €17 million.
- The event would mark Ireland’s first major international women’s football final.
Government guarantees would be needed in areas including security, visas, taxation and ticketing, all standard parts of a bid at this level.
For now, it is a bid. But it is an ambitious one, and a fitting one too. If the Women’s Champions League final lands in Dublin, it will be more than a single match. It will be a full house at Lansdowne Road, a city in summer, and another sign that women’s football here is being taken seriously.
Image Courtesy: The Irish Times
