2026 FAI Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Republic of Ireland |
| Dates | 10 May – 8 November 2026 |
| Teams | 44 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 38 |
All statistics correct as of 2 April 2026. | |
The 2026 FAI Cup, known as the Sports Direct FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons,[1] is the 106th edition of the Republic of Ireland's primary domestic association football cup competition. It features teams from the League of Ireland Premier Division and the First Division, as well as teams from the regional leagues of the Republic of Ireland football league system.[2]
RTÉ are to broadcast a number of FAI Cup ties including one third round fixture, two quarter-final fixtures, both semi-final fixtures, and the final.[3]
The 2026 FAI Cup winners are set to enter the first qualifying round of the 2027–28 UEFA Europa League.[4]
| Round | Draw date | Match dates | Number of fixtures | Teams | New entries this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Round | 2 April 2026 | 10–23 May | 12 | 44 → 32 | 24 |
| Second Round | TBC | 17-19 July | 16 | 32 → 16 | 20 |
| Third Round | TBC | 16-18 August | 8 | 16 → 8 | None |
| Quarter-finals | TBC | 6-8 September | 4 | 8 → 4 | |
| Semi-finals | TBC | 11-13 October | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | — | 8 November | 1 | 2 → 1 |
Teams
The 2026 FAI Cup is a knockout competition with 44 teams taking part. The competitors consist of the 20 teams from the League of Ireland and 24 teams from the regional leagues of the Republic of Ireland football league system.