Preview: Thursday's oneills.com World Games action
Joshua Johns of Australasia tackles his opponent during the International Football Division 1 match between Australasia and Delco Gaels Philadelphia on day two of the oneills.com GAA World Games 2026 at the SETU Arena in Carriganore, Waterford. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
The knock-out stages of the oneills.com World Games are well underway, with 17 finals down for decision today (Thursday) across Cup, Shield and Plate competitions.
A total of 460 fixtures have been played so far involving 115 teams from around the world. Collectively, those teams have scored 1,184 goals and 3,208 points and a total of 679 team sheets have been submitted, featuring 1,468 players and 160 team officials.
Behind the scenes, 48 referees have been assigned to ensure the smooth running of the competition across multiple venues. The figures underline the remarkable scale of the Games and the huge logistical effort involved in delivering a truly global Gaelic Games festival.
On the field, the picture is becoming clearer this morning (Thursday), following a hectic day of action yesterday.
In Men's Division 1 football, Delco Gaels from Philadelphia, Sean McDermotts from Warwickshire both have 100pc records with eight wins from eight in the group stages.
Among the pace-setters in Men's Division 2 football are Ottawa Gaels, Galicia 2, Brittany White and Gasconha, with Italy and Sables Shamrocks from Zambia the stand-outs in Division 3.
Action from the International LGFA Division 1 match between France B and Middle East during day three of the oneills.com GAA World Games 2026 at the SETU Arena in Carriganore, Waterford. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
San Francisco Fog City Harps White have seven wins and a draw in the group stage of International LGFA Division 1, with France narrowly ahead of New York in the other group in that division.
Brittany and Galicia 2 sit top of their groups in LGFA Division 2, with Co Europe and the fantastically-titled Dairy Girls amalgamation from the United States leading their respective groups in Division 3.
In hurling, New York and Pearse Óg from San Francisco lead the way thus far in the top flight; Mid Atlantic top one of the Division 2 groups, with Heartland Blue and Heartland St Louis level on points in the other group.
Alex MacDonald of Canada Hurling 1 takes a sidleline cut during the International Hurling Division 1 match between Canada Hurling 1 and New York GAA during day three of the oneills.com GAA World Games 2026 at the SETU Arena in Carriganore, Waterford. Photo by Paul Phelan/Sportsfile.
New York and USGAA Southeast are top of their groups in International Camogie Division 1; Northwest Camogie Collective lead the way in Division 2.
In the Open grades, Middle East are showing top form in men's and ladies football and camogie while Asia, with two wins and a draw, currently top the group in Open hurling.
There will be eight finals down for decision at Azzurri Walsh Park tomorrow (Friday) – these matches will be live streamed at this link:
https://www.youtube.com/live/08POq5SBBGM?si=HV2LPgxM5HwohxHt
Participants during the handball demonstration of Ladies Open World 4-Wall Handball Champion Ciana Ní Churraoin, not pictured, on day three of the oneills.com GAA World Games 2026 at the SETU Arena in Carriganore, Waterford. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile.
In handball, the semi-finals and finals will take place this morning in singles and doubles.
Brandon Muir v Florian Gayraud and Olivier Kowarski v Laurence Dunne is the men's singles last four line-up.
In the ladies singles, Carole Lenne meets Sinéad Landers and Ciara Jordan and Síle Spain clash in an all-Middle East tie.
Today's semi-final fixtures:
Camogie Division 2 Cup
Dairy Girls Camogie v Mid Atlantic Camogie
Northwest Camogie Collective v Germany
LGFA Division 3 Cup
Co Europe LGFA (GGE) v Winner Argentina/Germany
Dairy Girls LGFA v Winner Iberia/Asia
Hurling Division 2 Cup
Heartland Blue v Seattle Gaels
Mid Atlantic GAA Hurling v Winner Heartland St. Louis/German Hawks
LGFA Division 2 Cup
Brittany Black v San Francisco Fog City Harps Black
Galicia 2 v Winner Canada LGFA 2/Team South USA – Cailíní Bláthanna
Football Division 3 Cup
Sables Shamrocks, Kabwe, Zambia v Winner Paraguay/Iberia
Italy v Winner The Milk Men, Heartland/Europe Wolves (GGE)
Football Division 2 Cup
GAA Canada – Ottawa Gaels v Neustrie GAA
Brittany White v Winner Galicia 2/Siroc