Having qualified for European football for the seventh season in a row, they were entered in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League.

That game was notable for a goal by Dundalk's Jordan Flores, which was subsequently nominated for the FIFA Puskás Award.

[3] Subsequently, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic saw the cessation of football in line with other European countries ahead of the Round Six match at home to St Patrick's Athletic.

Matches were played behind closed doors for the remainder of the shortened season as part of the Irish government's response to the pandemic.

[8] In Europe, Dundalk entered the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League as the seeded team in the first qualifying round.

They were drawn away to Celje and defeated 3–0 in the single-leg tie, which was played at Szusza Ferenc Stadion, Budapest (Hungary) because of travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic between Slovenia and Ireland.

[21] In the FAI Cup, which also had a schedule change as a result of the pandemic, they reached the final after wins over Waterford, Cobh Ramblers, Bohemians, and Athlone Town.