The 2026-27 Irish League season will begin as scheduled this weekend after three proposals put forward by the Northern Ireland Football League were overwhelmingly approved at an extraordinary general meeting [EGM] on Tuesday night. The EGM was called by NIFL to try and prevent the new Irish Premiership and Championship seasons being delayed. AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementThe member clubs are made up of representatives from men's and women's Premiership clubs, Championship clubs and those in the Premier Intermediate League last season. As a result, NIFL will only control the top two leagues of Northern Irish football and has now expanded the Championship from 12 to 16 teams. Ballymena & Provincial League champions St. James' Swifts and Rosario, who came fifth in NAFL's Premier Division last season, are also due to complete the new 12-team league.