* To be participated by teams in the top flight FDH Premiership, the 2nd-tier NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) as well as regional and district league teams
By Duncan Mlanjira
The Football Association of Malawi (FAM) has introduced a new competition, the FA Cup — an all-inclusive, open-access national knockout tournament that will bring together eligible clubs from all levels of the Malawian football pyramid.
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In a press statement released today, November 11, the association indicates that the competition in bringing together eligible clubs from all levels of the Malawian football pyramid, it will provide opportunities for grassroots, lower-division and elite clubs to compete for national honors.
“The FA Cup will serve as both a flagship national knockout competition and a strategic platform for football development, talent identification, club growth and commercial opportunities,” says the statement.
“It will also promote nationwide football participation, strengthen competition between clubs across different divisions and provide greater exposure for emerging talent.
“The strategic objective is to establish the FA Cup as an inclusive, prestigious and commercially sustainable national knockout competition that connects all levels of Malawian football, strengthens clubs, expands opportunities for player development and provides a potential pathway to continental football, subject to applicable qualification and licensing requirements.”
The new competition will be participated by teams in the top flight FDH Bank Premiership, the 2nd-tier NBS Bank National Division League (NDL) as well as regional and district league teams.
Due to the limited time available for preparations and implementation as per the football calendar, participation in the FAM Cup for the inaugural 2026/2027 season will be restricted.
Meaning, it will only accommodate 16 teams in the FDH Bank Premiership; 12 in the NBS Bank NDL; top six in each of the four Regional League One as of October 31, 2026; top four in each of the four Regional League Two teams as of October 31, 2026; and 31 district leagues champions from the 2025/2026 season.
Each team will use players registered with their respective and will use Mpira Connect using league cards for identification.
The Mpira Connect is a must and only those actively registered in the system will be eligible to participate, emphasises FAM.
In the regional preliminary phase, the District League champions, Regional League One and League Two teams will join NBS Bank NDL sides in their respective regions for Playoffs to come up with 16 teams that will qualify for the national phase.
These will be four from each of the Northern, Central, Southern and Eastern regions to join the 16 Premiership teams for the Round of 32 national phase.
The top 8 teams at the end of the first round of the 2026/2027 top flight premiership season will be seeded.
The full competition package will be announced on Friday, November 20, 2026, during the draw for the regional playoffs.
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