Thirty-four clubs have applied for the FAW Men’s Tier 1 Licence for the 2026/27 season.
All 12 JD Cymru Premier clubs have applied, along with 12 clubs from JD Cyrmu North and 10 clubs from JD Cymru South.
The Club Licensing system aims to assist the continual improvement and development of football clubs at the top level within Wales.
The Cymru Premier has confirmed that there will be a restructure to the league for the 2026/27 season which will see the league go from 12 teams to 16 teams. Clubs must attain a men’s Tier 1 Club Licence to gain entry into the newly restructured league.
All Tier 2 clubs that have applied for the Tier 1 Licence will be eligible to access and submit applications for the FAW’s Future Growth Fund. This significant fund is being provided by the FAW to clubs to significantly develop their stadium infrastructure to deliver more Tier 1 compliant grounds ahead of the 2026/27 Cymru Premier restructure.
Licence Applicants
JD Cymru Premier (Tier 1)
- Bala Town
- Barry Town United
- Briton Ferry Llansawel
- Caernarfon Town
- Cardiff Met University
- Colwyn Bay
- Connah’s Quay Nomads
- Flint Town United
- Haverfordwest County
- Llanelli Town
- Penybont
- The New Saints
JD Cymru South (Tier 2)
- Aberystwyth Town
- Afan Lido
- Ammanford
- Caerau Ely
- Cambrian United
- Carmarthen Town
- Llantwit Major
- Newport City
- Pontypridd United
- Trefelin
JD Cymru North (Tier 2)
- Airbus UK Broughton
- Brickfield Rangers
- Buckley Town
- Denbigh Town
- Gresford Athletic
- Guilsfield
- Holywell Town
- Llandudno
- Newtown
- Penrhyncoch
- Ruthin Town
- Y Rhyl 1879
What happens next?
Clubs in Tier 1 and Tier 2 had until 30 September to submit their applications for a Tier 1 Licence for the 2026/27 season. The confirmed applicants are detailed above.
During October, November and December, site visits to their stadia will be arranged and club audits will be completed, including the assessment of their licensing documentation.
By 1 March 2026, any ground sharing agreements must be submitted in accordance with the FAW Pyramid Regulations.
All club licensing documentation must be finalised and submitted to the FAW by 31 March 2026.
The full Tier 1 Club Licensing Core Process can be viewed within the Tier 1 Men’s Club Licensing Regulations.
Decisions
Clubs are assessed on the following criteria:
- Sporting
- Social and Environmental Sustainability
- Infrastructure
- Personnel & Administrative
- Legal
- Financial
An independent First Instance Body (FIB), consisting of experts with relevant experience, will sit on 8 April 2026 to assess the applicants against the criteria detailed above. The decisions of the FIB will be communicated to the applicants on the same day.
For those clubs who have failed to attain the Tier 1 Licence, the FIB will provide written reasons for their failure and the club(s) will be invited to submit an appeal by 14 April 2026.
An independent Appeals Body, also consisting of experts, will sit to consider the appeals on 16 April 2026. Decisions will be communicated to the appellants on the same day. The decision of the Appeals Body is final.
