Villa FC set for Tier 3 for the National League as structures confirmed

Villa FC will prepare to step onto the national stage later this year after confirmation of the format and groupings for the inaugural FAI National League season, a landmark moment for the club as they line out among the 15 founding teams in the competition.

Drawn in Group 3 alongside CK United, Killarney Celtic, Newbridge Town and UCC, Villa FC face a challenging but exciting pathway in what will be a shortened 2026 campaign. The tournament, which is scheduled to kick off in late August, will act as a precursor to a fully expanded National League format set to be introduced in Spring 2027.

For Villa, the opportunity to compete at this level represents a significant step forward. As one of the founding clubs, they will be aiming to make an immediate impact and establish themselves as a competitive force. The group stage format will see each of the five teams play one another home and away, placing a premium on consistency, squad depth and adaptability across the campaign.

Only the group winners are guaranteed progression, with the three section toppers advancing directly to the National League semi-finals. The fourth semi-final place will go to the best-performing runner-up across all groups, meaning every point could prove crucial in determining who moves on to the knockout stages. The semi-final winners will then meet in November to decide the first ever National League champions.

Group 1 will feature Bonagee United, Cockhill Celtic, Home Farm DCU, Lucan United and Mervue United, while Group 2 includes Letterkenny Rovers, Mayo FC, Salthill Devon, St. Francis and TUD. Group 3, where Villa are placed, offers a mix of strong regional clubs and established football programmes, promising a series of competitive encounters throughout the autumn.

Fixtures for the competition are set to be released in due course, but anticipation is already building as Villa FC and their supporters look ahead to this historic campaign. With national exposure, high-quality opposition and a place in the competition’s history on the line, the stage is set for an exciting new chapter for the club.