Kerry and Mayo meet in 2026 All-Ireland football final

The 2026 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final was played on 26 July at Croke Park in Dublin. Defending champions Kerry entered seeking their 40th Sam Maguire Cup, while Mayo aimed to end a 75‑year wait for a title, having lost 11 finals since their last win in 1951. Both teams named strong line‑ups; Kerry’s attack featured David Clifford and the Clifford brothers, while Mayo relied on forward Kobe McDonald and a youthful forward line. Late injury changes saw Diarmuid O’Connor withdrawn for Kerry (replaced by Tom O’Sullivan) and Stephen Coen out for Mayo (replaced by John McMonagle, with Paul Towey taking Conor Loftus’s spot). The match was broadcast on RTÉ 2 and BBC 2 with streaming on the RTÉ Player and BBC iPlayer. Pre‑match coverage highlighted the historic “Mayo curse” narrative, fan travel to Dublin, and the significance of the clash for both counties.