UEFA paid compensation to Dublin and Bilbao for their European Championship hosts’ departures by awarding each city a future Europa League final.
The 2024 final will be held in Dublin, while Bilbao will host the 2025 climax. In 2024, the final of Women’s Champions League will be held in Basque Region.
UEFA stated that its executive committee took the decision as part of a settlement agreement’recognizing the efforts and financial investments made by the two cities’ in preparation for Euro 2020.
UEFA selected Bilbao and Dublin as 13 host cities in 2014. Both were dropped by UEFA in April after local authorities couldn’t guarantee that enough fans could enter the stadiums, as required by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Istanbul received compensation after it was deprived of hosting the Champions League finals for the second consecutive year due to the pandemic. Portugal was there to host both the Lisbon and Porto finals.
UEFA has confirmed that Istanbul will host the 2023 final, moving Munich’s planned turn back to 2025. The 2024 Champions League final will be held at Wembley Stadium, London, despite the chaotic organization of the Euro 2020 final.
Istanbul was also awarded UEFA’s season opening award ceremony, meetings, and European club competition draw each August for the next two seasons. Regular host Monaco has been replaced by Istanbul.
