All-Ireland senior football format changed for 2026 season

The All-Ireland SFC group stages have been replaced by a new structure similar to the old qualifiers but with a back-door route for beaten teams from the 2026 season. 

At GAA Congress in Donegal on Saturday afternoon, 92.8% of delegates voted of doing away with the group stages, which will be in operation for a final time this year.

They were on the go since the 2023 campaign, but they came in for criticism ever since due to a lack of jeopardy in the championship.

The current format has proved unpopular with teams being able to lose three games.  

The prime example was last year when Derry lost the first two games in the group stage having already lost in Ulster only for them to win the last match in their group to qualify for the knockout stages. Out of four teams in a group, the top three qualified.

The qualification for the Sam Maguire Cup based on provincial finals and league positions will remain in a three-year trial, which was revealed at the Congress. However, in the first round of each (last 16), the winners and losers will be divided into two sections, Round 2A and 2B.

The eight Round 1 winners will comprise Round 2A with the victors advancing to the All-Ireland quarter-finals. The losers will meet the winners of the losers’ stage in Round 2B to fill the remaining four places in the last eight.

It means teams can still lose twice in one championship season - once in the provincial championships, and once in the All-Ireland qualifiers - and go on to win the All-Ireland.

Last year, Cork lost to Louth in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final in Inniskeen. The preliminary stage will no longer operate from next year on.