Cardiff has landed another of football’s biggest games, with Principality Stadium officially selected to host the 2029 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final.
UEFA confirmed the decision today following a joint bid from the Welsh Government, Cardiff Council and the Welsh Rugby Union, meaning Europe’s best women’s club teams will battle it out for the trophy in the heart of the Welsh capital.
It will be another huge moment for the 73,000-capacity Principality Stadium, which previously hosted the men’s UEFA Champions League Final between Real Madrid and Juventus in 2017.
The announcement comes as women’s football continues to grow rapidly across Europe, with bigger crowds, increased coverage and some of the world’s leading clubs investing heavily in the women’s game.
By 2029, Cardiff will find itself at the centre of it all.
Cardiff Council Leader Cllr Chris Weaver said: “This is fantastic news for Cardiff and another proud moment for our capital city. Being chosen to host the 2029 UEFA Women’s Champions League Final reflects Cardiff’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading destinations for major sporting events.
“The 2029 final will bring a global audience to Cardiff, and we know from previous major events that the benefits extend far beyond the stadium. They support local businesses, attract visitors and create opportunities across the city and wider region.”
Cardiff is no stranger to hosting some of the world’s biggest sporting occasions.
Alongside the 2017 Champions League Final, the stadium welcomed the FA Community Shield earlier this year and will also play a role when the UK and Ireland host UEFA EURO 2028.
Over the years, the stadium has hosted Rugby World Cup matches, international rugby, world heavyweight boxing and WWE’s Clash at the Castle, as well as some of the biggest names in music, including Taylor Swift, Oasis and The Rolling Stones.
The arrival of another major football final is expected to bring thousands of supporters into Cardiff, with hotels, restaurants, bars and other businesses across the city set to benefit.
Cllr Jennifer Burke, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism, said: “We saw the benefits that came from hosting the UEFA Men’s Champions League Final in 2017. It brought visitors from across Europe, boosted the local economy and put Cardiff in front of a global audience.
“We’re looking forward to building on that success in 2029.”
For the Welsh Rugby Union, which operates the National Stadium of Wales, securing the final is also another major addition to the stadium’s growing football calendar.
WRU Group CEO Abi Tierney described the announcement as a “hugely significant moment for women’s sport in Wales and across Europe”.
She added: “The rapid growth of women’s sport continues to inspire new generations of athletes and supporters, and hosting an event of this magnitude at the National Stadium of Wales is a powerful statement about the importance and future of the women’s game.”
The two clubs that will eventually walk out beneath the Principality Stadium roof are, of course, still a long way from being decided.
But one thing is now confirmed: in 2029, the biggest night in European women’s club football is coming to Cardiff.
