The Champions League final is only just over one week away, and what a tournament it has been. But the question is, why isn’t there an Irish team in the competition, and when was the last time one entered the Champions League, let alone made it close to the final? Read on to find out.
The Champions League Final
Kick-off is on Saturday, 31st of May, at 20:00 UTC, if you’re in the UK, at the iconic Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany. You can try to get a UEFA Champions League final ticket here.
It’s so sad that Arsenal didn’t make it to the final for the UK, but still, over 400 million people are expected to tune in to see what’s expected to be a clash of the titans between the finalists, Barcelona FC and PSG.
If you’re a Madrid fan, sorry, but you’ll still probably tune in with your fingers crossed, hoping Barca will lose. But even the Madrid fans can’t deny that Barcelona has put in incredible performances since the competition started.
Why Wasn’t an Irish Team in the Champions League?
An Irish team wasn’t in the Champions League because of UEFA’s territorial model. It’s as simple as that. The territorial model UEFA follows includes 55 national territories that form the member associations of the Union of European Football Associations. Ireland is one of them, but the qualifying model is different.
For example, in the UK’s Premier League, the top four teams of the Premier League at the end of the season qualify for the Champions League. And the Premier League rules are changing in 2026 so that the top five teams qualify.
The one Irish League that can potentially qualify is the League of Ireland Premier Division, but only the winner of the league can enter the first qualifying stage of the Champions League.
Why Does Ireland Struggle?
There are multiple knockout rounds to go through before even reaching the group stage, and an Irish team rarely ever makes it to the groups.
So, it’s not that Irish teams can’t qualify; it’s that there’s only one team against 81 teams in the qualifying/knockout phase. So, the odds are slim. One Irish team is going against massive clubs with the top players like Barcelona, Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Inter Milan—the list goes on. Even though we love Ireland and Irish players are so talented, nobody can deny it’s almost impossible.
When Was the Last Time an Irish Team Was in the Champions League?
The last time an Irish team went for glory in the Champions League was in 2016. Dundalk FC, led by Stephen Kelly, almost made it to the group stages. They fought through the qualifying rounds, even beating BATE Borisov, who had previously won matches against Inter Milan and AS Roma (not in the Champions League competition), before unfortunately losing out against Legia Warsaw in the playoffs.
The way the Champions League structures its qualifying means an Irish team is unlikely to ever make it far. Campaigns are still ongoing to attempt to persuade UEFA to change its rules.
