Irish Football Association Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Nelson, has reflected on a year of significant progress across the organisation and set out its ambitions and priorities for 2026.
Looking back on 2025, Nelson highlighted a number of milestones both on and off the pitch, beginning with the first full year of delivery of the Youth Football Framework.
“This was a hugely important year for the Youth Football Framework,” said Nelson. “It is a well-researched and carefully designed programme that puts children at the centre of football development and enjoyment. We won’t fully understand its impact for five or ten years, but the progress made so far has been extremely encouraging.”
Women’s football was another major focus during the year, with the launch of the Irish FA’s five-year women and girls’ strategy, Together We Thrive, on International Women’s Day.
“That strategy gives us a crystal-clear focus on where and how we align our efforts in women’s football through to 2031,” Nelson said. “It also sits alongside our involvement in the UK nations’ bid to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2035, which is an incredibly exciting long-term project and one that has to inform the decisions we make now.”
Away from the pitch, the Irish FA secured a landmark naming rights partnership for its home ground, now known as the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park, and launched the Inspire Academy in partnership with Ulster University.
“The Inspire Academy is about investing in people,” Nelson added. “With an initial cohort of 24 students, we hope it will help develop future leaders and, potentially, the board members of tomorrow.”
Progress was also made on the National Football Centre (NFC), which will be developed at Galgorm, Ballymena, in partnership with the Galgorm Group. Preparatory work has now been completed ahead of a formal planning application.
“The NFC project gathered real momentum in 2025 and will accelerate further this year,” said Nelson. “We expect to submit our planning application in the coming weeks and, subject to that process, building work is currently anticipated to begin in early 2027.”
From a financial perspective, the Association expects to report another break-even year, with close to £23 million generated and reinvested directly into the development of football across Northern Ireland.
“That is something everyone connected to the Irish FA should be proud of,” Nelson said. “It reflects a collective effort across the organisation to ensure every pound we bring in is used to develop the game in our country.”
On the field, the senior men’s team remained firmly in the mix for qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, supported by consistently sold-out crowds at the Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park. Attention now turns to key away fixtures in March and the start of preparations for UEFA EURO 2028 later in the year.
“Sold-out matches and fantastic atmospheres are becoming the norm,” Nelson said. “Qualifying for the FIFA World Cup won’t be easy, but nothing worth having ever is. I know Michael O’Neill and his staff will have a clear plan in place to give our team the best opportunity of being involved in the tournament this summer.”
The senior women’s team continued to establish itself at the top end of UEFA Women’s Nations League B, narrowly missing promotion after a play-off defeat to Iceland. Qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 will begin in 2026.
At underage level, the men’s U17 and U19 teams reached elite rounds, the women’s U19s retained their League A status, and the U21s produced positive results despite regular movement of players to the senior squad. In 2026, Northern Ireland will host the UEFA Women’s U17 Championship finals.
“Hosting a UEFA finals tournament is a real honour,” Nelson said. “We are very much looking forward to welcoming Europe’s best to Northern Ireland and wish Gail Redmond and her squad every success.”
Looking ahead, Nelson identified the refresh of the Irish FA’s corporate strategy and the development of updated organisational values as key priorities for 2026.
“We are now four years into A Roadmap for Football and it’s the right time to engage widely on what comes next,” he said. “That includes working with our board, staff, the wider football family and UEFA to shape the future of the organisation.”
The Irish FA will also continue to advocate for increased investment in football infrastructure and community programmes, while maintaining its wider social impact through the work of the Irish FA Foundation.
“We don’t just develop footballers – we help make Northern Ireland a better place,” Nelson added. “Through partnerships and community initiatives, we want football to continue to have a positive impact well beyond the pitch.”
Nelson also reaffirmed the need for more capital funding from Government.
“This type of funding helps an organisation like ours to invest in growing participation, strengthening player pathways, and deliver long-term sporting, social and economic benefits for all of our communities.”
As the Association enters 2026, Nelson said the organisation does so with confidence and ambition.
“We won’t get everything right every time, but we have an excellent organisation, highly motivated people and a shared determination to do the right thing for football in this country,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to what we can achieve together in the year ahead.”
