The Allianz Football League is the national league of inter-county Gaelic football, played in winter and early spring before the championship. This guide explains how the four divisions work, what happened in 2026 and how to approach betting on league games.
In 2026 Donegal beat Kerry in the Division 1 final, according to Wikipedia’s league page. Dublin and Monaghan finished in the bottom two and were relegated.
- The format: four divisions of eight teams, including London. Each team plays the others in its division once, seven games in all.
- Points: two for a win, one for a draw. The top two in each division are promoted or play the final, and the bottom two in Divisions 1 to 3 are relegated.
- 2026: Donegal won Division 1. League form is a guide, not a prediction, because teams rotate their squads.
What is the Allianz Football League?
It is the National Football League, run by the GAA and sponsored by Allianz. Counties are placed in four divisions, and promotion and relegation between them decide who plays at the top level the following year. The league also feeds into the summer: in 2026, league rankings decided which counties joined the provincial finalists in the All-Ireland championship.
How does the league work?
- Four divisions of eight teams, 32 in total, including London.
- Each team plays every other team in its division once, so seven league games.
- Two points for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat.
- The top two teams in each division are promoted, and in Division 1 they contest the league final.
- The bottom two teams in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 are relegated.
The 2026 league ran from 24 January to 29 March. Round 1 began on 24 and 25 January, with Kerry hosting Roscommon in Killarney on the Sunday. See The42 and the GAA fixtures schedule for the dates, and check GAA.ie once the 2027 fixtures are published.
Who played in Division 1 in 2026?
Donegal, Kerry, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway, Armagh, Dublin and Monaghan. Donegal and Kerry finished top and reached the final.
What happened in 2026?
- Donegal won the Division 1 final, beating Kerry, for their second league title.
- Dublin finished seventh and Monaghan eighth, so both were relegated to Division 2 for 2027.
- Meath won Division 2, Down won Division 3 and Carlow won Division 4.
How do you bet on the Allianz Football League?
Bookmakers offer match odds, handicaps, winning margin and outright markets on the league and on promotion and relegation. League games are lower stakes than championship games, so squads rotate and results are less predictable. Our GAA betting guide explains the markets, and the accumulator calculator shows how fast the odds multiply across several games.
What should you check before betting on a league game?
- Team news: league squads often rotate, and managers use the games to try players.
- What is at stake: promotion, relegation and a place in a final change how hard a team plays.
- Weather and pitch conditions, which matter in winter.
- The bookmaker’s rules on draws, extra time and void bets.
Related guides
- GAA championships, key dates and betting
- Allianz Hurling League
- All-Ireland football championship
- GAA betting guide
- Betting sites in Ireland
Frequently asked questions
How does the Allianz Football League work?
Thirty-two teams play in four divisions of eight. Each team plays every other team in its division once, two points go for a win and one for a draw, and the top two are promoted while the bottom two in Divisions 1 to 3 are relegated.
Who won the 2026 Allianz Football League?
Donegal won Division 1, beating Kerry in the final, for their second league title.
Which teams were relegated from Division 1 in 2026?
Dublin and Monaghan, who finished seventh and eighth.
When does the Allianz Football League start?
In 2026 it began on 24 and 25 January. The GAA publishes the fixtures for the next season in its master fixtures schedule.
Does league form predict the championship?
Only loosely. Squads rotate in the league, and championship teams often peak later.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: 2026 National Football League – format, results and promotion and relegation
- The42: 2026 GAA fixtures – league start dates and opening fixtures
- GAA.ie: master fixtures schedule for 2026 – official fixtures schedule
- GamblingCare.ie – free, confidential gambling support in Ireland
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Last updated 27 October 2026. Written and checked by the Punter Ireland editorial team. Offers, odds and rules change, so always check the operator’s own terms and the official sources above.
