2026 National Football League (Ireland)

Last updated

League details
DatesJanuary – March 2026
Teams32
League champions
2025
2027

The 2026 National Football League , known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz Football League, is due to be the 95th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for county teams. Thirty-one county teams from Ireland, plus London, compete. Kilkenny do not compete in senior football. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Format

Map showing the leagues in which each county will participate Nflirl2026.png
Map showing the leagues in which each county will participate

League structure

Teams by Province and Division
ProvinceDivision 1Division 2Division 3Division 4Total
Connacht 30115
Leinster 143311
Munster 11226
Ulster 33219
England00011
Total888832

The 2026 National Football League consists of four divisions of eight teams. Each team plays every other team in its division once. Two points are awarded for a win, one point is awarded for a draw and none are awarded for a loss.

In the top division, Division 1, teams compete to become the National Football League (NFL) champions. The top two teams qualify for the NFL Final, with the winners crowned NFL champions.

Teams compete for promotion and relegation to a higher or lower league. In Divisions 2, 3 and 4, the first and second-places teams are promoted and play in the respective divisional finals, while the bottom two teams of divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.

Tiebreakers for league ranking

As per the Official GAA Guide - Part 1 - Section 6.21 [4] -

If two teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied:

  1. Where two teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two teams in the previous game in the Competition;

If three or more teams in the same group are equal on points on completion of the league phase, the following tie-breaking criteria are applied:

  1. Scoring Difference (subtracting the total scores against from total scores for);
  2. Highest Total Score For;
  3. A Play-Off.

In the event that two teams or more finish with equal points, but have been affected by a disqualification, loss of game on a proven objection, retirement or walkover, the tie shall be decided by the following means:

  1. Score Difference from the games in which only the teams involved, (teams tied on points), have played each other. (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For)
  2. Highest Total Score For, in which only the teams involved, have played each other, and have finished equal in (i)
  3. A Play-Off

Division 1

Island of Ireland location map.svg
Locations of the 2026 NFL Division 1 teams

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh 00000000Advance to NFL Final
2 Colours of Monaghan.svg Monaghan 00000000
3 Colours of Donegal.svg Donegal 00000000
4 Colours of Dublin.svg Dublin 00000000
5 Colours of Galway.svg Galway 00000000
6 Colours of Kerry.svg Kerry 00000000
7 Colours of Mayo.svg Mayo 00000000Relegation to 2027 NFL Division 2
8 Colours of Roscommon.svg Roscommon 00000000
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Final

March/April 2026
First-placed teamvSecond-placed team

Division 2

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Cavan.svg Cavan 00000000Advance to NFL Division 2 Final and
promotion to 2027 NFL Division 1
2 Colours of Cork.svg Cork 00000000
3 Colours of Offaly.svg Offaly 00000000
4 Colours of Louth.svg Louth 00000000
5 Colours of Meath.svg Meath 00000000
6 Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone 00000000
7 Colours of Derry.svg Derry 00000000Relegation to 2027 NFL Division 3
8 Colours of Kildare.svg Kildare 00000000
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Final

March/April 2026
First-placed teamvSecond-placed team

Division 3

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Wexford.svg Wexford 00000000Advance to NFL Division 3 Final and
promotion to 2027 NFL Division 2
2 Colours of Clare.svg Clare 00000000
3 Colours of Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh 00000000
4 Colours of Limerick.svg Limerick 00000000
5 Colours of Laois.svg Laois 00000000
6 Colours of Westmeath.svg Westmeath 00000000
7 Colours of Down.svg Down 00000000Relegation to 2027 NFL Division 4
8 Colours of Sligo.svg Sligo 00000000
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Final

March/April 2026
First-placed teamvSecond-placed team

Division 4

Table

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsQualification
1 Colours of Carlow.svg Carlow 00000000Advance to NFL Division 4 Final and
promotion to 2027 NFL Division 3
2 Colours of Leitrim.svg Leitrim 00000000
3 Colours of London.svg London 00000000
4 Colours of Longford.svg Longford 00000000
5 Colours of Tipperary.svg Tipperary 00000000
6 Colours of Waterford.svg Waterford 00000000
7 Colours of Antrim.svg Antrim 00000000
8 Colours of Wicklow.svg Wicklow 00000000
First match(es) will be played: January 2026. Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Final

March/April 2026
First-placed teamvSecond-placed team

References

  1. "Allianz Football League: Monaghan promoted but Down and Antrim suffer relegation". BBC Sport. 23 March 2025.
  2. "2025 Allianz Football League permutations". www.gaa.ie. 19 March 2025.
  3. Weekly, Wexford (24 March 2025). "Wexford's opponents revealed for 2026 Allianz Hurling and Football Leagues | Wexford Weekly". wexfordweekly.com.
  4. "GAA Official Guide - Part 1" (PDF). gaa.ie. Retrieved 21 October 2020.