The fixtures for the first season of the brand new FAI National League have been released today. There are 15 founding clubs, who’ll participate in a smaller, truncated 2026 season, before the championship rolls out in full in the Spring of 2027. This season will see three groups of five teams play ten games, five at home, and five away. The three group winners progress to the semi-finals, with the fourth and final spot reserved for the best performing runner-up. The final will take place in November.
The Round 1 fixtures are as follows:
Round 1
Saturday, August 29th
Group 1 | Mervue United v Cockhill Celtic | Fahy’s Field | KO 15:00
Group 1 | Bonagee United v Home Farm DCU | Dry Arch Park | KO 17:00
Group 2 | Salthill Devon v Letterkenny Rovers | NFP Park | KO 15:00
Group 2 | Mayo v St. Francis | Umbro Park | KO 17:00
Group 3 | CK United v Newbridge Town | SETU Carlow Sports Campus | KO 14:00
Group 3 | Villa v Killarney Celtic | workLAB Connors Park | KO 17:00
The new tournament is set to operate as a third tier in domestic Irish football, and is aiming to bridge the gap between non-league, regional football, and the League of Ireland first division. This is the first time that there has been an established Irish football pyramid since the A Championship folded back in 2011 after just three years in existence.
