The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has received support for its bid to host the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in 2029 from Ireland Women’s National Team (WNT) legends Emma Byrne and Katie McCabe.

The Association is working closely with its partners ahead of submitting the final bid submission in early June, but support for Dublin to host the Final in the Aviva Stadium in 2029 is growing.

Ireland WNT all-time appearance holder Byrne and current captain McCabe have both won the competition with Arsenal, in 2007 and 2025 respectively, so they believe that Dublin would be the perfect host city for the Final in three years’ time.

Byrne said: "The UEFA Women's Champions League is the biggest club competition in women's football, so to have the Final in Dublin in 2029 would be amazing, as the city and stadium have everything needed to host such a top-class event.

"I was part of a team that won the competition in the first ever season of the UEFA Women's Champions League and I've seen it continue to grow into this incredible competition. The evolution of women & girls’ football in Ireland has been fantastic to see and to bring the Final here would take that to another level entirely. 

“To have the best players in Europe come to Dublin in 2029 would be so special, not just for the fans, but as a powerful inspiration for the next generation of girls who dream of playing at the very highest level."

McCabe said: "Hosting the UEFA Women’s Champions League Final in 2029 would be brilliant for Dublin. It is a modern city, with a world-class stadium where the best players want to perform, and a passionate sporting culture that would embrace an occasion of this scale.

"Bringing the final to Dublin would be a huge opportunity to inspire the next generation, showing girls across Ireland the very highest level of women’s football and encouraging them to take up the game. As someone who achieved the dream of lifting the trophy, I know how much the city and venue add to the occasion, and I cannot think of a better setting for it than Dublin in 2029."

Following a preliminary process, the FAI worked closely with Aviva Stadium, the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and Dublin City Council, to review the requirements to host the event with consideration given to legacy potential, delivery feasibility and financial costs around hosting the event.

The FAI believes that the collaborative approach with key stakeholders, experience of successfully hosting the UEFA Europa League Final in 2011 and 2024, as well as the preparatory work being done for EURO 2028 will support the bid.

The Aviva Stadium is a major asset as part of this bid considering it has hosted two UEFA Europa League Finals, contributed an estimated €4.5 billion to the Irish economy since 2010, and is viewed as one of the world's top sporting venues.

Also, the increased popularity of women & girls’ football puts the Association in a strong position to host the 28th staging of the Final of the top women’s club competition in Europe.