FAI bids to host 2029 Women's Champions League final

FAI bids to host 2029 Women's Champions League finalImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The Aviva Stadium previously hosted the 2011 and 2024 Europa League finalsPublished7 minutes agoThe Football Association of Ireland has formally submitted a bid to host the 2029 Women's Champions League final at Dublin's Aviva Stadium. Dublin was put forward as a potential host city in an expression of interest by the FAI to Uefa in October, with a preliminary bid submitted in February. With support from the Irish Government and Dublin City Council, the FAI says it wants to continue to build the city's "reputation for hosting major sporting occasions" after the 2011 and 2024 Europa League finals at Aviva Stadium. The 51,700-capacity stadium is also set to stage seven games during Euro 2028."Irish football has a strong connection to the UEFA Women's Champions League with four individual winners in Emma Byrne, Ciara Grant, Yvonne Tracy and Katie McCabe, while 11 different Irish clubs have competed in qualifiers since its inception," said FAI chief executive David Courell. "Now, we want to bring its showpiece event to Dublin to inspire the current and next generation of girls."The FAI says hosting the showpiece game would be a "fantastic opportunity to build on the "phenomenal growth" of women's football in Ireland. Along with the Aviva Stadium, the Principality Stadium in Cardiff was one of three other potential bids to host the 2029 decider.Parc Olympique Lyonnais and St Jakob-Park in Basel declared interest to host either the 2028 or 2029 finals.Uefa will announce the winning host stadium for the 2028 and 2029 finals in September.Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe helped Arsenal beat Barcelona in the 2025 Champions League final in Lisbon, while Barca hammered Lyon 4-0 in last month's final at Oslo's Ullevaal Stadion. The 2027 final will be held in Warsaw.New episodes of Women's Fo...