FAI Confirms Format for New Third-Tier National League as Irish Football Pyramid Expands to 15 Clubs
The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed the format for a new third-tier "FAI National League," set to begin in August 2026 with 15 clubs, marking the most significant structural expansion of the League of Ireland pyramid in a generation. The new division will provide a competitive, nationally organised pathway for clubs currently operating outside the professional game and will create a clear route of promotion and relegation connecting the grassroots of Irish football to the Premier Division at the top of the domestic game.
Background
The League of Ireland has operated with a two-division structure — the Premier Division and the First Division — for most of its modern history. While the top two tiers have provided a competitive domestic league for professional and semi-professional clubs, the gap between the First Division and the regional leagues below it has long been identified as a structural weakness in Irish football's development pathway. Talented players and ambitious clubs in the regional leagues have had no clear route into the national league structure, and the absence of a third tier has been cited as a factor in the relatively slow development of Irish football's domestic talent pool.
The FAI's decision to establish a third tier reflects a broader strategic ambition to develop Irish football from the grassroots up, creating a coherent pyramid that connects every level of the game — from junior club football to the Premier Division and, ultimately, to European competition. The model is well established in England, Scotland, and across continental Europe, where multi-tier pyramid structures have been shown to improve the quality of domestic football, increase participation, and provide a more sustainable financial model for clubs at all levels.
The announcement of the new National League has been in development for several years, with the FAI consulting extensively with clubs, regional associations, and supporters' groups about the format and structure of the new division. The decision to launch with 15 clubs in August 2026 reflects a pragmatic approach — starting with a manageable number of clubs and building from there — rather than attempting to create a fully formed third tier from scratch.
Key Developments
The FAI has confirmed that the new National League will begin in August 2026 with 15 clubs drawn from the regional leagues across the country. The clubs have been selected through a combination of application, ground grading, and financial assessment, with the FAI prioritising clubs that have the infrastructure and governance to sustain participation in a nationally organised competition. The format of the league — the number of games, the promotion and relegation arrangements, and the cup competition structure — has been confirmed, though the FAI has indicated that some details may be refined after the first season based on feedback from participating clubs.
The new division will operate with a promotion and relegation link to the First Division, creating a genuine pathway for ambitious clubs to progress through the pyramid. The FAI has also confirmed that clubs in the National League will be eligible to enter the FAI Cup, providing an additional competitive opportunity and the possibility of high-profile ties against Premier Division clubs. The cup draw for the 2026-27 season will include National League clubs for the first time, a development that has been welcomed by clubs and supporters alike.
The announcement has been broadly welcomed across Irish football, with club officials, managers, and supporters expressing enthusiasm for the new structure. Several clubs that have been operating at the top of the regional leagues for years — building their infrastructure, developing their academies, and growing their supporter bases — see the National League as the opportunity they have been waiting for to take the next step in their development.
Why It Matters
The establishment of a third tier is a significant moment for Irish football, but its importance goes beyond the competitive structure it creates. A coherent pyramid sends a signal to young players, coaches, and investors that Irish football is serious about its own development — that there is a pathway from the bottom of the game to the top, and that ambition and hard work can be rewarded with progression through the system. That signal matters for the long-term health of the domestic game.
It also matters for the communities that clubs serve. Football clubs are community institutions, and the opportunity to compete at a higher level — to attract better players, to generate more interest, to build a stronger supporter base — has benefits that extend well beyond the pitch. The National League will give 15 communities across Ireland a new reason to invest in their local club and a new source of civic pride.
Local Impact
The impact of the new National League will be felt most immediately by the 15 clubs that have been selected to participate in the inaugural season. For those clubs — spread across the country from Donegal to Cork, from Galway to Wexford — the opportunity to compete in a nationally organised competition represents a step change in their ambitions and their profile. For the regional leagues from which the clubs have been drawn, the creation of a clear promotion pathway will intensify competition and raise standards across the board. For supporters of League of Ireland football more broadly, the expansion of the pyramid is a positive development that should, over time, improve the quality and depth of the domestic game.
What's Next
The FAI National League is scheduled to begin in August 2026, with the fixture list to be published in the coming weeks. The FAI will hold an information event for participating clubs before the season begins, covering the operational requirements of the new division, including ground standards, match day operations, and media obligations. The first season will be closely monitored by the FAI, with a formal review planned for the end of the 2026-27 campaign to assess the format and to consider any adjustments needed before the second season. The FAI has indicated that it expects the National League to expand to 16 or more clubs in subsequent seasons as more clubs meet the required standards.
