As part of its continued roll-out of the Football Pathways Plan, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has identified a number of key priorities to further aid the development of Irish football.

The Association’s aim – as outlined in the 2026-2029 FAI Strategy – to put a greater focus on football development and get more boys and girls playing more football will drive the implementation of:

• Delivering age- and stage-appropriate game formats across grassroots football
• Refocusing FAI Connect with a clearer emphasis on comprehensive player registration and football intelligence
• Strengthening player pathways through enhanced talent identification and Academy Mark 
• Supporting stronger clubs and leagues through the continued development of the Club and League Development Framework 
• Continuing to grow the women & girls' game through our Women & Girls' Team
• Developing a national referee strategy and pathway 
• Embedding the Football Education & Development Pathway 
• Developing a Football for All Action Plan to ensure football is inclusive, accessible and welcoming for everyone

Collectively, these priorities will help to strengthen player pathways, improve participation and retention, support volunteers and clubs, enhance football intelligence, and provide stronger foundations for the future development of the game.

As part of this next phase, the Association has confirmed an updated approach to competition calendars. Following the strategic planning process, the Aligned Football Calendar has been reprioritised and will not be considered a deliverable within the Football Pathways Plan or the FAI's current 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, enabling the Association to focus its resources on the priorities that will deliver the greatest benefit for Irish football over the next three years.

The Association remains committed to improving football pathways and the long-term development of the game, and the consultation on Aligned Football Calendar may be revisited as part of the next strategic planning process. Leagues will continue to have the flexibility to choose the season structure that best reflects their local circumstances, while the FAI Men's Under-17 Cup, FAI Youth Cup, FAI Intermediate Cup and FAI Junior Cup will be played on a winter-season schedule.

These updates were approved by the FAI Board following an ongoing review of competition calendars and continued engagement with stakeholders across Irish football, and will be reflected in the regulations.

The Football Pathways Plan, launched in February 2024, established a long-term framework for football development across every level of the game. One of its original Priority Actions explored greater alignment of competition calendars across the professional, amateur and underage game.

Following further implementation planning and continued engagement with leagues and stakeholders, the Association concluded that providing flexibility for leagues to determine the competition calendar that best meets their local needs represents the most appropriate approach, while maintaining the broader objectives of the Football Pathways Plan.

The next phase of the Football Pathways Plan reflects the Association's continued commitment to building stronger football infrastructure, improving player development, strengthening clubs and leagues, and creating more opportunities for more people to participate in football throughout Ireland.