Cardiff's Principality Stadium will stage the women's Champions League final in 2029, marking a major milestone for Welsh football and European women's sport.
The 73,931-capacity venue, which opened in 1999 as the Millennium Stadium, previously hosted the men's final between Real Madrid and Juventus in 2017. The decision to award Cardiff the 2029 showpiece follows a competitive bidding process in which the Welsh Football Association (FAW) competed against several other European cities for the honour.
According to the FAW's official announcement, the bid list included Lyon-Décines, Dublin and Basel, with UEFA setting a 10 June 2026 deadline for full bid submissions. The Football Association of Ireland had also entered the race, submitting a bid for Dublin's Aviva Stadium, making Cardiff one of several competing bids for the prestigious event.
FAW chief executive Noel Mooney expressed enthusiasm about the award:
It's brilliant news for Cymru and the FAW and the journey that we're on, particularly in the women's game.He further emphasised the broader significance of hosting the final, stating:
This is about much more than one night in 2029. Our ambition is for the Uefa women's Champions League final to become a catalyst for the continued transformation of women's and girls' football in Wales.
The Cardiff city centre venue will be designated the National Stadium of Wales for the event to comply with UEFA sponsorship regulations.
Wales' history with the women's final
Wales has previous experience hosting Europe's premier women's club competition. Nine years before this award, Cardiff City Stadium hosted the women's Champions League final in 2020, where Lyon defeated Paris Saint-Germain on penalties following a goalless draw after extra time. The FAW had framed its bid for 2029 as part of a wider legacy plan for women's and girls' football in Wales, building on that earlier success.
The Principality Stadium's recent profile
Earlier this year, Principality Stadium—the largest stadium in Wales—hosted the FA Community Shield, where reigning Premier League champions Arsenal defeated Manchester City 3-0. The venue has established itself as a premier destination for major football events across the continent.
Other UEFA finals confirmed for 2028 and 2029
UEFA has confirmed a series of major finals across European venues for the coming years. The 2028 men's Champions League final will take place at Munich Football Arena, with Barcelona hosting the final a year later in 2029, marking 30 years since Manchester United's dramatic victory over Bayern Munich in the Spanish city.
The 2028 women's Champions League final will be held at Parc Olympic Lyonnais in Lyon-Décines. The National Arena in Bucharest will host the 2028 Europa League final, while the National Stadium in Belgrade will hold the Europa League final in 2029. Turin's Juventus Stadium will stage the 2028 Conference League final, and the Puskás Aréna in Budapest will host the 2029 Conference League showpiece.
What happens next
According to reports on the UEFA bidding process, UEFA was expected to confirm the winning 2029 host stadium in September 2026. The FAW's bid submission came after the association decided to shift away from a 2027 attempt, with UEFA's scheduling moved for operational reasons.
Key facts:
- Principality Stadium in Cardiff will host the 2029 women's Champions League final
- The venue previously hosted the men's final in 2017 and will be named National Stadium of Wales for the event
- Cardiff competed against Lyon-Décines, Dublin and Basel for the right to host the final
- Wales previously hosted the women's final in 2020 at Cardiff City Stadium, where Lyon won on penalties
- The FAW views the 2029 final as a catalyst for transforming women's and girls' football development in Wales
