Introduction: A new chapter for Irish football academies
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has secured an additional €3 million in Budget 2026 to advance the professionalisation of 26 League of Ireland (LOI) academies. This injection sits atop the FAI’s existing €6 million annual government funding under a memorandum of understanding that runs until 2027. The targeted aim is to create a more sustainable, high-performance pipeline for Irish players, aligning domestic development with European standards.
How the money will be allocated
Under the revised plan, the LOI department will consult with Sport Ireland to determine the distribution of the €3 million. League officials have signalled that the majority of the funds will go directly to clubs—up to 81% according to league director Mark Scanlon. The exact split will reflect each academy’s audit outcomes and performance metrics, with ongoing negotiations about year-on-year increases to come.
Previously, the LOI academy strategy envisaged creating three full-time roles per academy (director of football, lead coach, and an administrator) across all 26 clubs. With the €3 million allocation, the model is likely to be adjusted to one or two full-time positions per club, significantly reducing initial staffing ambitions but still aimed at elevating professional standards across the system.
Impacts on staffing and investment
Currently, the academy ecosystem in Ireland is lean—only about 10 full-time staff operate across the entire LOI framework. The new funding is intended to accelerate the move toward full-time status in more academies, even if the immediate effect is a phased roll-out. The plan also anticipates that the best-performing academies, identified through annual audits, will attract additional funding in the future.
Notable player success that underscores the strategy
The budget comes against a backdrop of high-profile youth sales that underscore the value of a robust academy network. St Patrick’s Athletic teenager Mason Melia transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in January for an initial fee around €1.9 million, while Shamrock Rovers’ 16-year-old winger Victor Ozhianvuna moved to Arsenal for a fee reportedly near €2 million. Such moves illustrate the potential financial and reputational returns of well-supported academies and help justify continued government and governing-body investment.
Policy context: Brexit, governance, and long-term aims
The policy backdrop includes post-Brexit recruitment rules, which restrict Irish players from joining UK clubs before they turn 18. The original LOI budget pitch of €10 million—intended to fund 81 full-time academy roles—was reduced after discussions with Minister for Sport Patrick O’Donovan and subsequent reviews. A government-funded audit of all 26 academies helped shape the revised €3 million package, which still aims to develop a credible, export-ready player pipeline while supporting community-based programs.
Strategic outlook: years 2026 and beyond
The FAI and LOI emphasise ongoing negotiations to increase academy funding year-on-year. The best academies, as measured by annual audits, could receive supplementary support, creating a merit-based ladder that rewards effective youth development. The plan aligns with broader FAI objectives outlined by Will Clarke, the league’s academy manager, to establish a sustainable professional framework by 2037 and beyond.
Look ahead: broader sports funding context
Budget 2026 also channels funds into Sport Ireland and related sports bodies, signaling a wider commitment to high-performance pathways and grassroots participation. While high-performance funding will rise to 28.5 million for 2026, the LOI’s academy push remains a central pillar of Irish football’s ambition to compete internationally and nurture communities nationwide.
The FAI, alongside the LOI, welcomed the government’s backing as a vital validation of Irish football’s reform agenda. They also signalled openness to ongoing scrutiny and adjustment as the academy network evolves, aiming to deliver the next generation of Irish talent on the world stage.
