The new-look Lansdowne Road will host either a Champions League or UEFA Cup final.
Planning permission for a 50,000 all-seater, state-of-the-art stadium was recently granted, with the 260million project subject to a final hearing. Construction on the Dublin venue is then due to start next year, with completion in 2009, with the prospect beyond that of staging one of football's showpiece events.
"This is marvellous news. Ireland showed last week with the Ryder Cup that it is capable of hosting the world's major sporting events," Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney said.