Ireland will transition to summer football across all levels by 2028. Delegates at the FAI’s general assembly voted in favor of aligning the soccer calendar to a January-to-December format, a move hailed by FAI President Paul Cooke as transformative for the sport in Ireland.
Currently, over 65% of Ireland’s 72 leagues operate on a winter season, but these leagues will now transition on a phased basis over the next four years. The change is hoped to bring numerous benefits, including improved pitch conditions, fewer fixture disruptions due to weather, and better opportunities for player development.
FAI Chief Football Officer Marc Canham welcomed the decision, describing it as a “green light for progress” in modernizing and unifying Irish football.
However, not everyone is fully on board with the change. Kilkenny and Carlow were among the regions that voted overwhelmingly against the proposal, citing concerns about its impact on their local leagues.
The shift to summer football has been a topic of heated debate for years, with proponents arguing it aligns Ireland with other European nations and creates a more attractive product for fans and players. Opponents, however, worry about potential scheduling conflicts with GAA fixtures and disruptions to grassroots systems.
For more insight and analysis on this pivotal change, tune into KCLR’s Kilkenny and Carlow Soccer Podcasts.
