Australasia’s men’s and women’s Gaelic football teams both enjoyed strong group-stage campaigns but were ultimately stopped short of the medals at the 2026 GAA World Games, held at the SETU Arena in Waterford from 13-17 July.
Across a demanding round-robin schedule, both squads showed tremendous quality, with our men’s team finishing second in their pool and the women matching that feat in theirs.
The men opened with a statement win, defeating Canada 2-6 to 0-3, before edging France Challenger 2-7 to 1-7 in their second outing. A tough loss to Delco Gaels Philadelphia followed, but the guys bounced back in style with a 3-10 to 1-6 victory over Canada in a repeat fixture.
Wins over Brittany Black and France Challenger rounded out the group stage, before Delco Gaels got the better of them again in a final pool game. That set of results was enough to see our men through to the last eight as runners-up in their group, but their tournament ended at the quarter-final stage with a 1-4 to 0-10 defeat to France Championship on the Thursday.
Australasia’s Adam Smyth playing against Canada at the GAA World Games at SETU Arena in Waterford, July 2026.
The women’s campaign was similarly competitive and, ultimately, similarly heartbreaking. Australasia opened with a one-point win over France B before earning a draw against San Francisco Fog City Harps White, and finished opening day emphatically with a 6-7 to 1-0 demolition of Middle East.
A statement 3-6 to 0-4 win over Brittany White followed, along with wins over France B and Middle East. Losses to Fog City Harps and Brittany White, however, were reminders of how tightly contested the tournament was throughout. The results were enough to secure second place in their group and a semi-final berth.
That semi-final, against France A, proved to be the women’s toughest test of the week. Our women pushed the eventual champions all the way, going down by the narrowest of margins, 0-5 to 1-5, in a match that could easily have gone the other way. France went on to lift the title, a measure of just how close our women had come to a place in the final.
While winners’ medals proved elusive, both teams leave Ireland having pushed the strongest sides in the world all the way.
Australasia’s Olivia Bramley kicking a point against Middle East at the GAA World Games at SETU Arena in Waterford, July 2026.
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