The previous series between the countries had been held in and won by Australia in November 2017.[3] As the GAA had scheduled an exhibition hurling match between Galway and Kilkenny at the Sydney Showground Stadium in November 2018, the two associations met to discuss the prospect of holding a series the following year.[4] As time passed, plans for a series in 2019 did not materialise, and the GAA eventually confirmed that insufficient time remained to stage the event.[5] In November 2019 the AFL and GAA proposed dates for a two-test series in 2020 to be held in Ireland.[1][6] The GAA also proposed to hold a memorial ahead of the second test in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre, which saw fourteen civilians killed at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park during the Irish War of Independence.[7] On 4 April 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, the AFL announced the cancellation of the series.[8][2]
