The FAW Club Licensing applicants for the 2026/27 season of Tier 1 and 2 in Women’s football and Tier 2 and 3 in Men’s football have now been confirmed.
The full list of applicants can be downloaded by clicking here.
A Licence is granted on an annual basis and automatically expires at the end of the season for which it has been awarded. Therefore, in order for clubs to maintain their status at their level of the Pyramid, they must annually apply for and meet the licensing criteria.
It’s important that clubs at all levels are assessed annually in order to ensure that the high standards clubs have already met remain in place and that all ground share agreements remain valid.
The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continuous improvement and development of football clubs so any changes to the criteria are carefully considered and are made with the intention of increasing standards.
What happens next?
Clubs had until 31st December 2025 to submit their application fees for an FAW Club Licence for the 2026/2027 season.
During November, December, January and February, site visits to their stadia are arranged and club audits are completed, including the assessment of their licensing documentation.
By 1 March 2026, any groundsharing agreements must be submitted in accordance with the FAW Pyramid Regulations.
All club licensing documentation must be finalised and submitted to the FAW by each Licence’s respective deadline date.
The full Club Licensing Core Process can be viewed within the respective tiers FAW Club Licensing Regulations .
Decisions
Six Panels, made up of independent experts, meet to assess each club’s application.The six independent Panels cover the Women’s Tier 1 (First Instance Body & Appeals Body), Tier 2 Men’s & Women’s (First Instance & Appeals Body) and Men’s Tier 3 (First Instance & Appeals Body). The Panels meet during March, April and May.
Panel members cover a range of skills & expertise and include; senior lawyers & other legal experts, chartered accountants, UEFA stadium inspectors & consultants and former international footballers.
The First Instance Bodies decide on whether a Licence should be granted to an applicant club on the basis of the documents provided by the submission deadline or, whether the Licence should be withdrawn.
For those clubs who failed to attain the respective Licence, the First Instance Body will provide written reasons for their failure, and the club(s) will be invited to submit an appeal.
The Appeals Bodies decide on appeals submitted in writing and make a final decision on whether the Licence should be granted or withdrawn. The decision of the Appeals Body is final.
Applicants List
Click below for the full list of FAW Club Licensing applicants.
