Dublin
Dublin plays a lot of its football on tarmac, astro and in school halls, much of it five a side. In 2027 the MCC Major Champions Cup puts a tournament on three Dublin grounds: Northside, West Dublin and Southside. No other Irish city hosts, so the three champions face each other for the national title in May, and the winner moves on to the continental stage.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Dublin with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
Northside
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
West Dublin
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Southside
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
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Where Dublin teams play now
Dublin's small-sided game lives in booked slots at astro pitches and sports halls, often next to a GAA club or a school. Office leagues, college teams, groups from local junior clubs and friends who play one night a week all fill these slots. League of Ireland sides such as Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians, St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne have local followings, and plenty of their fans play five-a-side themselves.
For those teams MCC supplies a season with shape: four-team groups, three matches each, playoffs for the top two and penalties when a playoff ends level. A squad may carry nine players. Match officials come from MCC; teams have no say in who they are.
Northside, West Dublin and Southside
The grounds follow the old city split. Northside draws teams from Phibsborough, Drumcondra, Coolock and Santry. Southside covers areas such as Rathmines, Ranelagh, Dundrum and Stillorgan. West Dublin serves Clondalkin, Lucan, Blanchardstown and Tallaght, places with a lot of pitches and a lot of players.
Luas, DART, Dublin Bus and cars carry most teams, and each ground is sited around where squads live, not around the city centre. Between 64 and 128 teams play at each ground, which then crowns a champion. One venue per ground is confirmed, and its name appears here after signing.
April showers, May finals and a three-team national stage
April in Dublin is mild and changeable, with sun and showers in the same evening, and May holds the light past nine. Group football fills three weekends, 9 to 11 April, 16 to 18 April and 23 to 25 April 2027. Playoffs start 30 April and the grounds finish on 9 May.
With Dublin as Ireland's single MCC host city, its three Pitch Champions skip any further qualifying and meet one another at the Country Championship, 28 to 30 May 2027. The national winner advances to the continental stage, and 7 July 2027 is the date of the World Final.
How MCC compares with a Dublin summer cup
Five-a-side cups are plentiful in Dublin, mostly single-day events put on by clubs, charities or firms. MCC is a different animal: a season of five weeks, fixtures set out beforehand, one Team Licence per team and $20,000 for each ground's winner. Entry is for amateurs alone, every entry names a Team President, and the conduct rules allow no leeway.
The road out of Dublin
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Dublin
How does a team enter MCC in Dublin?
Register on this site and pick one of Dublin's three grounds: Northside, West Dublin, Southside. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Dublin?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Dublin grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Dublin?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Dublin team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Ireland title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Our Dublin team plays Gaelic games in winter. Can it enter?
Entry is for amateur teams, and a squad holds up to nine players. A side that comes together in the off season is as welcome as any other amateur team. Whoever is named Team President on the Team License answers for the entry and for how the players behave.
Why do Dublin Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship?
Dublin is the only Irish host city, so no other region sends a champion. Instead the three Dublin winners meet at the Country Championship, 28 to 30 May 2027, and whoever takes it enters the continental stage.
Does a team from Cork, Galway or Limerick have to enter in Dublin?
Dublin is the only host city in Ireland for this edition, so teams from elsewhere in the country register for one of its three grounds. Check the travel needed for group matches before choosing, since the fixtures are spread across three weekends.
Which parts of Dublin does each ground cover?
Northside covers Phibsborough, Drumcondra, Coolock and Santry, West Dublin covers Clondalkin, Lucan, Blanchardstown and Tallaght, and Southside covers Rathmines, Ranelagh, Dundrum and Stillorgan. Each ground holds 64 to 128 teams, and the live cards say which of them has a confirmed venue.
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Claim a pitch in Dublin
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years