New Saints won their 16th Shimul Premier title last season. [FAW]
The Simul Premier will be expanded to 16 teams and divided into three new divisions at the end of the 2026-2027 season.
Wales’ top team currently consists of 12 clubs, and after each club has played home and away matches, the league will be split into two divisions of six divisions.
Under the new format, 16 teams will play each other home and away, before a new division will see the league divided into three tiers – 6 Club, 4 Club and 6 Club, each competing for the title, European qualification and relegation.
The Football Association of Wales (FAW) hopes the changes will “raise the profile, brand and awareness of the league”, boost attendance numbers and increase the commercial appeal of the competition.
The FAW also hopes the new format will improve Welsh clubs’ performance in European competitions, with Cymru Premier currently ranked 50th out of 55 teams in the UEFA Association Club Coefficient system, which ranks Europe’s domestic leagues. It is located in
From 2026 to 2027, the top six teams in the Cymru Premier, a “championship race,” will compete again, with the team at the top of the table crowned champions after round 35. Clubs from second to sixth place will at least qualify for the European qualifying play-offs at the end of the season.
The 7th to 10th-placed clubs, the “European Challengers,” will compete again, and the club in 7th place at the end of Round 33 will earn the final spot in the European qualifying play-offs at the end of the season.
Finally, clubs ranked 11th to 16th (the “Survival Zone”) will also play against each other once again. The clubs in 15th and 16th place at the end of Round 35 will be automatically relegated, and the club in 14th place will participate in the relegation play-off.
Here, they will face the winner of a tie between 2nd place in Shimuru North and 2nd place in Shimuru South for the right to remain in the Shimuru Premier.
In a statement explaining the new format, FAW stated the main reasons for the change:
Connecting with fans: “By reducing the number of games and broadcasting high-stakes games throughout the season, fans are more likely to stay engaged from start to finish. This structure allows for geographic representation across Wales. There will be more opportunities to build relationships with new supporters.”
Quality and Danger: “This format helps maintain a high level of competition and provides top teams with better preparation for European qualification, while providing further development opportunities for emerging talent.” Its introduction adds a new level of danger to the league.
Sustainable growth: “With increased competitiveness and increased opportunities for increased matchday, sponsorship and broadcast revenue, the new structure will ensure the long-term sustainability of Cymru Premier. More home matches and more fans The increased involvement should also increase commercial income for the club itself.”
Jack Sharp, FAW’s head of domestic leagues, said: “We are excited to finally share the new JD Cymru Premier format for the 2026-27 season and beyond.
“It was important that we identified a structure that would allow our club to thrive, allow the FAW to work towards the outcomes of the JD Simul Premier Strategy and deliver a top flight for which the country can be proud.
“An analytical, data-driven process was undertaken to thoroughly analyze the best league structures through the lens of our Guiding Principles. In our efforts to create, we have built a model where connections are at the heart of the league.
“It was great to see how well our current JD Cymru Premier clubs have embraced the new format and the excitement generated from our recent owners and chairman meetings.”