The Football Association of Ireland has finalised the venue for Dundalk’s Champions League Play-Off Round qualifier.
The Airtricity League club will play the match at the Aviva Stadium.
The Lilywhites will discover their next opponents in tomorrow’s draw with the two-legged tie to be played later this month.
The first leg will be played on either August 16 or 17 and the second leg on August 23 or 24.
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny said: “The flexibility that the FAI have showed around League fixtures amongst the four clubs involved in Europe has helped the players recover adequately and that is important strategically when trying to reach your optimum level.
“Ger Dunne and his video analysis team, who have worked closely with our assistant manager, Vinny Perth, have helped us to prepare for our two previous opponents BATE Borisov and FH.
“We’re delighted that our next game will be at the Aviva Stadium. The players want to play on the biggest stage and in the national stadium. What we dream of in this League to play in the Aviva Stadium and to have it full – that does not happen very often.
“We experienced playing there with the FAI Cup Final last year so it is great to get to play in the Aviva Stadium again. We are very appreciative of the FAI’s help in that regard.”
FAI Director of Competitions Fran Gavin said it was important that everything that the club needed from a venue perspective was in place to help Dundalk prepare for one of the biggest occasions in its history.
Mr Gavin said: “Dundalk’s achievement in reaching the UEFA Champions League Play-Off Round should not be underestimated and they deserve tremendous credit for how they have conducted themselves on and off the pitch.
“We want to help the club to prepare in the best possible way to keep their great run in the competition going and we will arrange for everything to be in place with the Aviva Stadium as a home venue for Dundalk.
“The FAI has already been offering technical support to Stephen Kenny’s team in the form of expert video analysis. We are now delighted to help the club stage their next game at the Aviva Stadium and give them the full support of our professional staff.
“The FAI remains committed to working with the SSE Airtricity League clubs towards a new pathway and the recent announcement of supplying funding for strategic business planning is one part of that.
“Assisting SSE Airtricity League clubs is a priority for the Association, by ways of example, whether that is in helping Bohemians with the redevelopment of Dalymount Park, Cork City and the Glanmire Centre of Excellence, or Wexford Youths and the securing of Ferrycarrig Park for Irish domestic football.
“I would encourage all supporters of Irish football to make their way to the Aviva Stadium and get behind Dundalk for what will be a very special night.”
