Radical changes to football in Northern Ireland are set to be implemented at the end of next season the NI Football League has confirmed.

As part of its strategy (2023-2028), NIFL has worked closely with stakeholders to explore how competitions can best evolve, building on work by the Irish FA to reshape the football pyramid.

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As such NIFL will take full responsibility for the top two tiers of men’s football in Northern Ireland they say to “sharpen our focus exclusively on developing the professional game”.

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Beneath these two professional tiers, the newly formed National Conference League will become a key part of the Performance Pathway, operating tiers 3, 4, and 5 and creating clearer routes for talent development and club progression.

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NIFL state a smooth transition, several key changes have been approved:

  • There will be no relegation from the NIFL Championship in the 2025/26 season

  • At the end of the 2025/26 season the top four ranked teams in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League (meeting new Championship criteria) will join an expanded 16-team NIFL Championship for the 2026/27 season

  • The remaining Premier Intermediate League clubs will transition into the new National Conference League structure

  • The aim is to get to five leagues of 12 teams within 3-4 years

In addition, The NIFL Board has approved a new and ambitious Professional Game Ground Criteria which outlines a phased five-year improvement plan aimed at raising standards across the Premiership and Championship.

This initiative responds to the rising expectations of players, coaches, and fans, and underscores our vision for a more modern and competitive professional football environment.

The League governing body states this restructure represents more than a reshuffling of leagues, as it provides a significant opportunity to modernise the game, improve player pathways, and build a stronger foundation for the future of professional football in Northern Ireland.

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NIFL Chief Operating Officer, Steven Mills said: “These developments are the result of both the Irish FA and NIFL strategies. The changes are the outworkings and actions contained within both documents and I believe they create a clear performance pathway for ambitious clubs, while also challenging existing clubs to further develop and progress.

“A lot of work from key stakeholders has gone into this, and we thank them all for their input, most importantly our clubs. This also further highlights the urgent need for the NI Football Fund to come to fruition and for increased investment to continue growing the game, as our clubs continue to face the evolving challenges and needs of their communities.”