The Irish FA has welcomed the continued progress towards the launch of the National Conference Leagues, scheduled for the 2026/27 season.
Working in partnership with the Northern Amateur Football League (NAFL), which has today (June 27 2025) provided an update on the development, there has been strong engagement from clubs, leagues, associations, and individuals through the Conference Roadshows and the recent Expression of Interest phase which has helped refine the vision for the National Conference Leagues, a key pillar of the Irish FA’s Performance Pathway and long-term strategy to enhance domestic competition and player development.
Feedback received has highlighted key areas where clubs have requested additional clarity - particularly around league structure and home ground requirements. This information has now been confirmed, and supporting materials are being finalised for release in July.
To ensure clubs have sufficient time to review these materials and prepare, the formal application process will open in August. The application questions and scoring matrix will be shared in advance, with the application window remaining open through September.
More information and an updated project timeline is now available at:
🔗 www.niconferenceleague.co.uk
For any further queries, please contact the project team at:
Restructure of the Men’s Pyramid – Background
The Irish FA is committed to delivering an objective outlined in its Corporate Strategy (2022-27) to “transform the football pyramid to create a clear pathway for ambitious clubs”.
In accordance with this objective, the Irish FA is undertaking a significant restructure of the men's football pyramid in Northern Ireland to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the men’s amateur game.
The restructure presents an opportunity to ‘reset’ the football pyramid and provide an improved pathway for ambitious clubs to be promoted to the elite levels of the amateur game, with the potential for future progression to the professional game.
This restructure includes the introduction of a new Conference Layer to allow clubs to compete at a national level directly below the NIFL Premiership and Championship.
Following a consultation process the Irish FA has identified a need to develop consistent league formats and fixture calendars for the top tiers of the amateur game, and to establish a dependable mechanism for promotion and relegation across the highest levels of the men's amateur and professional game.
The Irish FA will support the appointed league operator who will confirm the application process for interested clubs and the composition of leagues for commencement in season 2026-27.
The Conference Layer will be governed by agreed rules and regulations which will modernise and standardise the approach of all leagues within the performance game.