Players from Rome and Milan head to Waterford, representing the growing GAA community in Italy.Italy will be sending two teams to the GAA World Games in Ireland this July, competing in both the International category and the Open category (Irish players) in Gaelic football.The squads bring together players from both Rome and Milan, reflecting the continued growth of the Gaelic games community in Italy and the strengthening links between clubs across the country. The players are a mix of Irish, Italian and international, and 2026 will be Team Italy’s third outing at the GAA World Games. What is Gaelic football? Gaelic football is a fast-paced Irish field sport where two teams of 15 players compete to move a round ball down the pitch using a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking and hand-passing. Points are scored by either kicking the ball over the crossbar for one point or into the net for a three-point goal. The game is one of several indigenous Irish sports governed and promoted by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). GAA World Games 2026 The five-day event in Waterford will feature matches over four days at SETU Arena, West Campus, Carriganore, Co. Waterford from 13-16 July, with the finals taking place on Friday 17 July at Walsh Park. Christy Breathnach, who will be among the Irish players travelling from Rome, said it is "a great opportunity to be involved in a team representing Italy” and described the event as extra special for him as he is from Waterford. Italy International team captain Valerio De Felice added: “We’ve worked hard as a group to get here, and we’re looking forward to being part of a great week of Gaelic sports in Ireland. The focus for us is simple: compete well, stick together, and wear the Italy jersey with pride.” Italy will also be represented in camogie and ladies’ football across additional European and international squads. Clodagh McKinney will represent Italy and Rome on the Europe Camogie Open team, while four players will line out for Rome and Italy on the Central East International Ladies Football team: Alexane Thibodeau, Siina Silvennoinen, Nancy Vander Veer, Michaela Nelson and Pamela Giannuzzi. Funding The men’s two Italy teams will also be supported by Roman Vacations for the GAA World Games campaign. The club is also running a GoFundMe page to help players travel to the World Games, along with a fund-raising quiz at the Fiddler's Elbow Irish pub in Rome, on Via dell'Olmata 43, on Monday 6 July at 19.30.

Italy will be sending two teams to the GAA World Games in Ireland this July, competing in both the International category and the Open category (Irish players) in Gaelic football. The squads bring together players from both Rome and Milan, reflecting the continued growth of the Gaelic games community in Italy and the strengthening links between clubs across the country. The players are a mix of Irish, Italian and international, and 2026 will be Team Italy’s third outing at the GAA World Games. Gaelic football is a fast-paced Irish field sport where two teams of 15 players compete to move a round ball down the pitch using a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking and hand-passing. Points are scored by either kicking the ball over the crossbar for one point or into the net for a three-point goal. The game is one of several indigenous Irish sports governed and promoted by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). The five-day event in Waterford will feature matches over four days at SETU Arena, West Campus, Carriganore, Co. Waterford from 13-16 July, with the finals taking place on Friday 17 July at Walsh Park. Christy Breathnach, who will be among the Irish players travelling from Rome, said it is "a great opportunity to be involved in a team representing Italy” and described the event as extra special for him as he is from Waterford. Italy International team captain Valerio De Felice added: “We’ve worked hard as a group to get here, and we’re looking forward to being part of a great week of Gaelic sports in Ireland. The focus for us is simple: compete well, stick together, and wear the Italy jersey with pride.” Italy will also be represented in camogie and ladies’ football across additional European and international squads. Clodagh McKinney will represent Italy and Rome on the Europe Camogie Open team, while four players will line out for Rome and Italy on the Central East International Ladies Football team: Alexane Thibodeau, Siina Silvennoinen, Nancy Vander Veer, Michaela Nelson and Pamela Giannuzzi. The men’s two Italy teams will also be supported by Roman Vacations for the GAA World Games campaign. The club is also running a  to help players travel to the World Games, along with a fund-raising quiz at the Fiddler's Elbow Irish pub in Rome, on Via dell'Olmata 43, on Monday 6 July at 19.30.