Football Association of Ireland

What Football Association of Ireland does

The Football Association of Ireland (legal name Cumann Peile na hÉireann, company number 17081) is the sole UEFA- and FIFA-affiliated national governing body for association football in the Republic of Ireland. Headquartered at the National Sports Campus, Abbotstown, Dublin 15, it manages the Senior Men's and Senior Women's national teams, age-grade squads from U15 through U21, the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division (12 clubs), Men's First Division (8 clubs), SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division (12 clubs), and the FAI Cup competitions. It operates the FAI Connect platform for player, coach, referee and club administration, the LOITV streaming platform for League of Ireland coverage, the Football Finder location-based search tool, and the FAI Club Mark accreditation scheme across grassroots clubs, alongside a comprehensive safeguarding framework.

Revenue is generated through six principal streams: sponsorship deals with ten-plus brands including Aviva (€26M five-year stadium naming rights through 2030), Sky (men's and women's team sponsor), Castore (kit supplier), Carlsberg, Nissan, EA Sports, Cadbury, Circle K, DHL and Air Coach; match ticket sales at Aviva Stadium routed via Ticketmaster; tiered Club Ireland membership packages priced from €400 (Green) to €5,000 over ten years (Gold), supplemented by Platinum Sky Box private suites; broadcasting rights with RTÉ and Virgin Media; club licensing fees collected from League of Ireland and UEFA-licensed clubs; and merchandise sales through shop.irelandfootball.ie. Distribution is multi-channel: direct sales (Tickets, Aviva Stadium), self-serve platforms (FAI Connect, FAI Connect member portal), and digital marketing (FAI website, social channels, Grassroots Newsletter). The customer base spans individual fans and supporters, professional League of Ireland clubs, grassroots participants, and major commercial partners, with commercial concentration in flagship-tier sponsors (Aviva, Sky, Castore, Carlsberg) underpinning media and matchday economics.

Name

Football Association of Ireland

Legal name

Cumann Peile na hEireann (Football Association of Ireland)

Website

https://fai.ie

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Football Association of Ireland is the UEFA- and FIFA-affiliated national governing body for football in the Republic of Ireland, operating from Dublin to manage the men's and women's national teams, the League of Ireland (Premier, First, and Women's Premier Divisions), FAI Cup competitions, and grassroots club development programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Football Federation and Sports Governance

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (7112)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association Football (Soccer) Leagues (MPAKAAAA), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• National football federation
• Football association governance
• Grassroots football development
• Club licensing accreditation
• Matchday ticketing hospitality

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship: Commercial sponsorship deals with major brands including Sky (national team sponsorship), Aviva (stadium naming rights), Castore (kit supplier), Carlsberg, Nissan, EA Sports, Cadbury, Circle K, DHL, MiWadi, and others.
2. Ticket Sales: Revenue from match tickets for men's and women's national team fixtures at Aviva Stadium, including individual match tickets and season tickets.
3. Club Ireland Memberships: Premium matchday hospitality and membership packages sold at four tiers (Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold) ranging from €400 to €5,000, offering benefits including guaranteed seats, lounge access, guest speakers, and corporate benefits.
4. Club Licensing Fees: Fees collected from League of Ireland clubs (Men's Premier Division, First Division, Women's Premier Division, UEFA License clubs) through the club licensing process.
5. Broadcasting Rights: Revenue from broadcasting agreements with RTÉ, Virgin Media, and other media partners for coverage of national team matches and domestic competitions.
6. Merchandise Sales: Online shop (shop.irelandfootball.ie) selling official Ireland kit and merchandise.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Football Association of Ireland is the national governing body for football in the Republic of Ireland, managing the Republic of Ireland men's and women's national teams, the League of Ireland club competitions, and grassroots football development. It administers club licensing and accreditation, runs safeguarding frameworks, organizes the FAI Cup competitions, and sells match tickets, season tickets, Club Ireland premium memberships, official merchandise, and access to its FAI Connect administration platform and LOITV domestic streaming service. Funding is supported through commercial sponsorships, broadcasting rights, government grants, and membership subscriptions.

Product overview

The Football Association of Ireland operates as the governing body for football in Ireland, offering a comprehensive ecosystem of products and services across both digital platforms and operational programmes. The core digital products include FAI Connect (the football management system), LOITV (streaming platform for League of Ireland), and Play Football (location-based player discovery tool). Matchday experiences are delivered through Club Ireland hospitality packages and Men's/Women's National Team Season Tickets with associated Loyalty Supporter Scheme and Green Benefits. Grassroots football development is supported through Club Mark accreditation, the In Her Boots girls' football programme, and various funding programmes including Sports Capital Programme, CLAR, LEADER, and LSSIF. The organisation also manages Club Licensing for professional and semi-professional clubs, runs the FAI Cup competitions for men and women, and oversees the League of Ireland Men's Premier Division (SSE Airtricity) and Women's Premier Division. Comprehensive safeguarding frameworks ensure safe participation across all football activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Men's National Team Season Tickets Annual season ticket product for senior men's international fixtures at Aviva Stadium, guaranteeing entry to all Senior Men's home UEFA Nations League Qualifiers and International Play-Offs/Friendlies, with optional U21s access subject to availability.
• Women's National Team Season Tickets Annual season ticket for the Women's National Team guaranteeing seats to all home Senior Women's International 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup Qualifiers including Play-Offs and friendlies, with a minimum of 5 home games included. Includes Green Benefits with priority pre-sales and exclusive competitions.
• Club Ireland Membership Premium matchday hospitality and membership experience for Senior Men's National Team home games with four tiers - Green (€400/year), Bronze (€2,000/3 years), Silver (€3,000/5 years), Gold (€5,000/10 years) - offering Club Ireland Lounge access, VIP guest speakers, complimentary tickets to WNT and U21s fixtures, pre-sale access to Aviva Stadium concerts and events, priority on away ticket applications, and match-day programmes. Platinum Sky Boxes provide the highest tier with private suite access, sheltered balcony with padded seats, private bar facility and world-class catering.
• FAI Connect Football Administration Platform Self-service online platform serving as the primary football administration system for clubs, leagues, and associations to manage player registrations, referee bookings, coach certifications, and club administration in Ireland.
• LOITV Live Streaming Service Official streaming platform for watching League of Ireland matches live, providing online coverage of Men's and Women's professional football competitions across the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division, First Division, and Women's Premier Division.
• FAI Club Mark Accreditation Three-tiered (Entry Level, One Star, Two Star, with Three Star in development) accreditation programme awarding grassroots football clubs recognition for governance, management, and administration based on best practice standards.
• FAI Club Licensing Service Annual licensing programme administered by the FAI Club Licensing Department evaluating League of Ireland and UEFA Licence applicants against Sporting, Infrastructure, Football & Social Responsibility, Personnel & Administration, Legal and Financial criteria. Awards licences for Premier Division, First Division, Women's Premier Division, and UEFA competitions.
• In Her Boots Programme (with AVIVA) Girls-only football programme for ages 9-16 of all abilities delivered in partnership with AVIVA, offering female participation opportunities through local club sessions across multiple Dublin locations in 2026.
• Sky x Ireland Kids Football Training Camp Football training camp experience for children aged 6-14 of all skill levels, delivered as a collaboration between Sky and the FAI offering skill development and competitive application-based entry.
• Play Football (Football Finder) Digital location-based service helping individuals start their football journey by finding local football opportunities through configurable radius search (1km to 20km) from their address, connecting players with nearby clubs and leagues.

Quantifiable outcome

• €26 million over five years in stadium naming rights sponsorship from Aviva
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and supporting.

• Aviva IrelandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2025Aviva Ireland has renewed its stadium naming rights deal with the FAI and IRFU for five more years (until 2030), valued at approximately €26 million over five years. Aviva Stadium serves as the primary venue for Irish national football and rugby teams.
• SkyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Sky has expanded its sponsorship of Ireland's national football teams in 2024 to include the men's team alongside the women's team. The partnership includes the Sky x Ireland Kids Football Training Camp programme.
• THP (The Hospitality Partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHP is Ireland's premier Sports & Entertainment events company, partnered with FAI to deliver first-in-class match-day hospitality for Club Ireland members at Aviva Stadium.
• Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (Government of Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe FAI supports clubs in accessing the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme, with maximum grants of €200,000 for local projects and €500,000 for regional projects, issued at 95% rate.
• CastorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial kit supplier for Irish national football teams.
• CarlsbergsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial beer partner of Irish football, visible at matches and events.
• CadburysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial confectionery partner supporting women's football initiatives.
• Circle KsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerFuel and convenience retailer partner supporting Irish football.
• DHLsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial logistics partner for Irish football operations.
• TicketmastercoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial ticketing platform for national team match tickets, season tickets, and hospitality packages.
• TeneosupportingOthersExternal PR consultancy firm engaged by FAI for communications support. FAI spent €242,302 on Teneo in 2024, exceeding projected budget.
• AvivaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAviva partners with FAI on the 'In Her Boots' programme - a girls-only football initiative (ages 9-16) running across multiple Dublin locations in 2026.
• UEFAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean football governing body affiliation providing access to European competitions, competition regulations, and club licensing standards.
• FIFAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld football governing body affiliation providing access to World Cup competitions and international match regulations.
• SSE AirtricitycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor of League of Ireland men's and women's premier divisions (SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division, SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division).
• EA SportssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial video game partner bringing Irish national teams to FIFA/EA Sports FC gaming platforms.
• NissansupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial automotive partner of Irish football.
• Air CoachsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial coach transport partner for Irish football travel.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Koninklijke Belgische Voetbalbond (KBVB): The KBVB is the Belgian national football federation, a small-market UEFA/FIFA-affiliated federation comparable to the FAI on scale, population dynamics, and reliance on national team performance for commercial value. Operates national teams, Pro League oversight, and grassroots accreditation under a similar governance model.
• Football Association of Wales: The FAW governs football in Wales under the same UEFA/FIFA affiliation, with comparable national team, domestic league (Cymru Premier), and grassroots functions. Similar small-market dynamics, domestic league structure, and reliance on national team cycles for commercial momentum.
• Scottish Football Association: The SFA is the closest peer by population and structure: another small-market UEFA/FIFA-affiliated federation operating national teams, the Scottish Professional Football League, and a grassroots Club Quality Mark programme. Most directly comparable on scale, governance model, and commercial mix.
• Irish Football Association (Northern Ireland): The IFA is the all-island counterpart governing football in Northern Ireland under UEFA/FIFA, operating national teams, the NIFL Premiership, and grassroots accreditation. Comparable as a neighbouring small-market federation with shared player pipeline considerations and identical regulatory umbrella.

Broad incumbents

• The Football Association (England): The FA is the UEFA/FIFA-affiliated national governing body for football in England, operating the same tri-level structure (national teams, domestic leagues, grassroots) as the FAI but at materially larger scale and with a Premier League ecosystem. Directly comparable as a national federation with sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing revenue models.
• Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB): The DFB is the German national football federation, operating the Bundesliga ecosystem, DFB-Pokal, national teams, and a massive grassroots network. Comparable as a national federation with sponsorship, broadcast, and licensing revenue lines, though at vastly larger scale than the FAI.
• Fédération Française de Football (FFF): The FFF governs football in France under UEFA/FIFA, operating Ligue 1, Coupe de France, national teams, and a deep grassroots network through its District system. Comparable federation structure and diversified commercial model, with broader sponsorship, broadcast, and licensing footprint than the FAI.
• Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF): The RFEF is the Spanish national football federation governing La Liga-adjacent competitions, Copa del Rey, national teams, and a large grassroots network. Comparable as a UEFA/FIFA federation with similar sponsorship, licensing, and broadcast revenue architecture, though at larger scale and with stronger competitive performance.

Others

• Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU): The IRFU shares Aviva Stadium with the FAI and is a co-signatory to the Aviva naming rights renewal, making it a direct venue and commercial counterpart. Comparable as a fellow national federation operating out of Dublin with shared stadium economics and overlapping sponsorship pool.
• Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA): The GAA is Ireland's largest amateur sporting organization governing Gaelic games, with similar grassroots-club structure, member-based governance, Sport Ireland funding access, and broad national-team-equivalent competitions. Comparable as the dominant domestic sports governance and participation competitor for Irish consumer attention and sponsorship.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/faireland

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Football Association of Ireland