The group stages are gone, and teams plotting their way to Sam Maguire can either go the short route or the long route.
Kerry’s Gavin White celebrates with the Sam Maguire Cup(Image: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo)
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship gets off and running in earnest this weekend, and there are eight cracking round one ties for us to enjoy.
Round one? Oh that’s right, the All-Ireland format has once again been changed. Over the past decade, the championship has consisted of qualifiers, the back door system, the Super 8’s and the group stage.
This year, it’s all different, and on paper, it looks to be the best format yet. That’s because there is jeopardy in every single game – this means no dreaded dead rubbers in 2026.
Take a look below to see who is involved in the championship, what the format is and how it will all unfold over the coming weeks.
What teams are in the All-Ireland this year?
There are 16 teams in the 2026 All-Ireland senior football Championship. These teams are Kerry, Donegal, Cork, Meath, Galway, Kildare, Roscommon, Tyrone, Westmeath, Cavan, Armagh, Derry, Dublin, Louth, Monaghan, Mayo.
What matches are taking place in round one?
The competition begins with round one:
Kerry v Donegal
Cork v Meath
Galway v Kildare
Roscommon v Tyrone
Westmeath v Cavan
Armagh v Derry
Dublin v Louth
Monaghan v Mayo
What is the format for the 2026 All-Ireland Football Championship?
16 teams enter round 1, with eight games to be played. Let’s start with the easiest route to the quarter-finals.
The eight winners in Round 1 will move into Round 2A. Four matches will be played in round 2A. Win your match in 2A and you go straight into a quarter-final.
The four losers in Round 2A go into Round 3.
The eight losers from round one will move into Round 2B. There will be four games in round 2B. Win your match in 2B and you will move onto Round 3. Lose your game in Round 2B and you are out of the championship.
Round 3 consists of the four winners from Round 2B playing the four losers from Round 2A.
The four teams that win their Round 3 matches march into the quarter-finals, the four losers are out.
The winners of Round 3 face the winners of Round 2A in the quarter-finals.
Can I see this as visualiser please and thanks?
All-Ireland format explainer.
Make this even simpler for meWin your first two games = Quarter-finalWin you first game but lose your second= Round 3Lose your first game but win your second= Round 3Lose both your games = EliminationLose in round 3 = Elimination