The Sam Maguire Cup. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
A new All-Ireland SFC and Tailteann Cup format will be adopted in 2026.
At the GAA's Annual Congress in Donegal, delegates voted in favour of altering the structure from next year.
Motion 19 proposed that the 2026 All-Ireland SFC would comprise 16 teams, the eight provincial finalists and the highest ranked Allianz League finishers, and 2025 Tailteann Cup winners with no round robin series.
Eight Round One winners advance to Round 2A with the losers going to Round 2B. The four Round 2A winners will qualify for the quarter-final stage. Round 2A losers will meet Round 2B winners in Round 3 (preliminary quarter-final).
Brian Carroll, CCCC chairperson, outlined the proposals, which were welcomed by former GAA President Seán Kelly, who highlighted the home fixtures element. "I'm delighted you've introduced home games which will support businesses and sponsors," Kelly said.
Down's Diarmuid Cahill and Antrim's Séamus McMullan were supportive of the motion, while Higher Education GAA's Gerry Tully highlighted how the format has worked in the Electric Ireland Sigerson Cup. "We're totally in favour of this motion, we've used it in the Sigerson Cup," he remarked.
A total of 92.8% of delegates voted in favour.
