2025 Australian Championship

Last updated

Australian Championship
Season 2025
Dates10 October – 6 December
Matches32
Goals107 (3.34 per match)
Top goalscorer Ali Auglah (4 goals)
Biggest home win Heidelberg United 6–1 South Hobart (26 Oct)
Biggest away win Wollongong Wolves 0–3 Heidelberg United (18 Oct)
Highest attendance6,825 (South Melbourne v Sydney Olympic; 10 Oct)
Lowest attendance534 (Bayswater City v North Eastern MetroStars; 19 Oct)
2026
All statistics correct as of 2 November 2025.

The 2025 Australian Championship is the first edition of the Australian Championship, a national second-tier competition of soccer in Australia, held after the finish of the second-tier 2025 National Premier Leagues season. [1] The tournament consists of six home-and-away matches in four groups for teams in the group stage, culminating in a knockout finals series, running from 10 October and concluding on 6 December. [2] [3]

Contents

Teams

2025 Australian Championship
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30km
19miles
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2025 Australian Championship
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7km
4.3miles
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2025 Australian Championship
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900km
559miles
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Broadmeadow Magic                                      
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                            Bayswater City
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Locations of clubs in Sydney and Wollongong (top), Melbourne (middle), and the rest of Australia (bottom).
Foundation clubs, NPL qualifiers

Sixteen clubs are participating in the inaugural edition. Eight clubs gained automatic qualification as the competition's "foundation clubs": Avondale FC, Marconi Stallions, Preston Lions, South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic, Sydney United 58, Wests APIA, and Wollongong Wolves. [4] [5]

The other eight qualified via the 2025 National Premier Leagues, seven as premiers: Bayswater City (WA), Broadmeadow Magic (Northern NSW), Canberra Croatia (ACT), Moreton City Excelsior (Queensland), North Eastern MetroStars (SA), NWS Spirit (NSW), and South Hobart (Tasmania). The 2025 NPL Victoria premiers, Avondale FC, had already qualified as a foundation club, so their berth went to the league's second-placed team Heidelberg United. [6] [7]

List of 2025 Australian Championship clubs
TeamCityHome groundCap.
Avondale FC Melbourne Avenger Park2,500
Bayswater City Perth Frank Drago Reserve 3,000
Broadmeadow Magic Newcastle Magic Park 3,500
Canberra Croatia Canberra Deakin Stadium 1,500
Heidelberg United Melbourne Olympic Park 12,000
Marconi Stallions Sydney Marconi Stadium 9,000
Moreton City Excelsior Brisbane Perry Park 5,000
North Eastern MetroStars Adelaide T.K. Shutter Reserve 2,000
NWS Spirit Sydney Christie Park 1,500
Preston Lions Melbourne B.T. Connor Reserve 9,000
South Hobart Hobart D'Arcy Street 4,500
South Melbourne Melbourne Lakeside Stadium 12,000
Sydney Olympic Sydney Jubilee Stadium 20,500
Sydney United 58 Sydney Sydney United Sports Centre 12,000
Wests APIA Sydney Leichhardt Oval 20,000
Wollongong Wolves Wollongong Collegians Sports Centre5,000
Qualified as a foundation club
Qualified via the NPL

Group stage

The draw for the group stage was conducted on 1 May. [2] Four of the foundation clubs (APIA Leichhardt, Avondale, Marconi Stallions and South Melbourne) were seeded into Position 1 of each group. [8]

The group stage is being played from 10 October to 16 November. [9] [10]

All times listed are local time.

Group A

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification SMB MCE SOL BMM
1 South Melbourne (Q)440083+512 Finals series 2–03–28 Nov
2 Moreton City Excelsior 420297+268 Nov1–25–1
3 Sydney Olympic 410379231–28 Nov2–3
4 Broadmeadow Magic 4103611530–12–316 Nov
Updated to match(es) played on 2 November. Source: Football Australia
(Q) Qualified for the phase indicated
10 October1 South Melbourne 3–2 Sydney Olympic Melbourne
19:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
Attendance: 6,825 [11]
Referee: Sam Kelly
12 October1 Broadmeadow Magic 2–3 Moreton City Excelsior Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Magic Park
Attendance: 1,175 [12]
Referee: Eric Saba
19 October2 Sydney Olympic 2–3 Broadmeadow Magic Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Jubilee Stadium
Attendance: 1,371 [13]
Referee: Eric Saba
19 October2 South Melbourne 2–0 Moreton City Excelsior Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
Attendance: 3,395 [14]
Referee: Jack Morgan
26 October3 Broadmeadow Magic 0–1 South Melbourne Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: Magic Park
Referee: Joshua Attard
26 October3 Moreton City Excelsior 1–2 Sydney Olympic Brisbane
12:00 (AEST) Source
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 1,048 [15]
Referee: Zac Keenan
1 November4 Sydney Olympic 1–2 South Melbourne Sydney
15:15 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Jubilee Stadium
Attendance: 1,401 [16]
Referee: Jack Morgan
2 November4 Moreton City Excelsior 5–1 Broadmeadow Magic Brisbane
12:00 (AEST)
Source
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 380 [17]
Referee: Tom Fell
8 November5 Sydney Olympic v Moreton City Excelsior Sydney
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Jubilee Oval
8 November5 South Melbourne v Broadmeadow Magic Melbourne
15:15 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
14 November6 Moreton City Excelsior v South Melbourne Brisbane
18:35 (AEST) Source Stadium: Perry Park
16 November6 Broadmeadow Magic v Sydney Olympic Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Magic Park

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification HEI MAR WOL SHO
1 Heidelberg United 4310112+910 Finals series 1–09 Nov6–1
2 Marconi Stallions 421182+671–13–04–0
3 Wollongong Wolves 420269360–315 Nov3–2
4 South Hobart (E)400441612016 Nov9 Nov1–3
Updated to match(es) played on 2 November. Source: Football Australia
(E) Eliminated
12 October1 Heidelberg United 1–0 Marconi Stallions Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 2,114 [18]
Referee: Declan Woods
12 October1 South Hobart 1–3 Wollongong Wolves Hobart
13:00 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: D'Arcy Street
Attendance: 1,348 [19]
Referee: Daniel Cook
18 October2 Marconi Stallions 4–0 South Hobart Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 2,107 [20]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
18 October2 Wollongong Wolves 0–3 Heidelberg United Wollongong
15:00 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre
Attendance: 3,077 [21]
Referee: Declan Woods
25 October3 Marconi Stallions 3–0 Wollongong Wolves Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Referee: Declan Woods
26 October3 Heidelberg United 6–1 South Hobart Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Olympic Park
Referee: Tom Fell
31 October4 Marconi Stallions 1–1 Heidelberg United Sydney
20:35 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: Marconi Stadium
Attendance: 1,718 [22]
Referee: Jake Rose
2 November4 Wollongong Wolves 3–2 South Hobart Wollongong
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre
Attendance: 1,320 [23]
Referee: Matt Staples
9 November5 South Hobart v Marconi Stallions Hobart
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: D'Arcy Street
9 November5 Heidelberg United v Wollongong Wolves Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Olympic Park
15 November6 Wollongong Wolves v Marconi Stallions Wollongong
15:15 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre
16 November6 South Hobart v Heidelberg United Hobart
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: D'Arcy Street

Group C

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification AVO PRE NWS CCR
1 Avondale FC 4220105+58 Finals series 15 Nov9 Nov3–1
2 Preston Lions 412165+150–01–18 Nov
3 NWS Spirit 412178153–31–32–1
4 Canberra Croatia 4103611531–43–216 Nov
Updated to match(es) played on 2 November. Source: Football Australia
11 October1 Preston Lions 1–1 NWS Spirit Melbourne
15:00 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium
Attendance: 4,241 [24]
Referee: Jock Quartermain
12 October1 Avondale FC 3–1 Canberra Croatia Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Avenger Park
Attendance: 1,731 [25]
Referee: Jack Morgan
19 October2 Canberra Croatia 3–2 Preston Lions Canberra
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Deakin Stadium
Attendance: 1,650 [26]
Referee: Tom Dale
19 October2 NWS Spirit 3–3 Avondale FC Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 779 [27]
Referee: Jock Quartermain
24 October3 Preston Lions 0–0 Avondale FC Melbourne
19:35 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium
Attendance: 5,301 [28]
Referee: Eric Saba
26 October3 NWS Spirit 2–1 Canberra Croatia Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Christie Park
Referee: Jake Rose
1 November4 Canberra Croatia 1–4 Avondale FC Canberra
13:00 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Deakin Stadium
Attendance: 731 [29]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
2 November4 NWS Spirit 1–3 Preston Lions Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)
Source
Stadium: Christie Park
Attendance: 834 [30]
Referee: Declan Woods
8 November5 Preston Lions v Canberra Croatia Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium
9 November5 Avondale FC v NWS Spirit Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Avenger Park
15 November6 Avondale FC v Preston Lions Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Avenger Park
16 November6 Canberra Croatia v NWS Spirit Canberra
13:30 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Deakin Stadium

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification BWC APL MET SUD
1 Bayswater City 431063+310 Finals series 1–01–03–2
2 Wests APIA 421162+4716 Nov1–14–0
3 North Eastern MetroStars 411234149 Nov0–116 Nov
4 Sydney United 58 4013410611–17 Nov1–2
Updated to match(es) played on 2 November. Source: Football Australia
11 October1 North Eastern MetroStars 0–1 Wests APIA Adelaide
12:30 (ACDT) Source
Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve
Attendance: 1,136 [31]
Referee: Tom Brinkworth
12 October1 Sydney United 58 1–1 Bayswater City Sydney
16:30 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre
Attendance: 953 [32]
Referee: Jake Rose
17 October2 Wests APIA 4–0 Sydney United 58 Sydney
19:30 AEDT
Source Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 4,263 [33]
Referee: Daniel Cook
19 October2 Bayswater City 1–0 North Eastern MetroStars Perth
13:30 (AWST)
Source Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: 534 [34]
Referee: Liam Barclay
25 October3 Sydney United 58 1–2 North Eastern MetroStars Sydney
15:15 (AEDT) Source
Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre
Attendance: 318 [35]
Referee: Brodie Merchant
26 October3 Bayswater City 1–0 Wests APIA Perth
13:30 (AWST) Source Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: 697 [36]
Referee: Niall Gillmor
2 November4 Wests APIA 1–1 North Eastern MetroStars Sydney
13:00 (AEDT)
Source Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 2,983 [37]
Referee: Eric Saba
2 November4 Bayswater City 3–2 Sydney United 58 Perth
13:30 (AWST)
Source Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve
Attendance: 790 [38]
Referee: Daniel Cook
7 November5 Sydney United 58 v Wests APIA Sydney
19:35 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre
9 November5 North Eastern MetroStars v Bayswater City Adelaide
16:00 (ACDT) Source Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve
16 November6 North Eastern MetroStars v Sydney United 58 Adelaide
12:30 (ACDT) Source Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve
16 November6 Wests APIA v Bayswater City Sydney
16:30 (AEDT) Source Stadium: Leichhardt Oval

Finals series

The quarter-finals will be played on 22 and 23 November at the home grounds of the group winners; while the semi-finals on 29 November, and the final on 6 December, will be played at a to-be-determined neutral venue. [9] [10]

 
Quarter-finals Semi-finals Final
 
          
 
22 November
 
 
Winner Group A
 
29 November
 
Runner-up Group C
 
Winner quarter-final 1
 
22 November
 
Winner quarter-final 2
 
Winner Group B
 
6 December
 
Runner-up Group D
 
Winner semi-final 1
 
23 November
 
Winner semi-final 2
 
Winner Group C
 
29 November
 
Runner-up Group A
 
Winner quarter-final 3
 
23 November
 
Winner quarter-final 4
 
Winner Group D
 
 
Runner-up Group B
 

Quarter-finals

22 November Winner Group A v Runner-up Group C
13:00 (AEDT)
22 November Winner Group B v Runner-up Group D
15:00 (AEDT)
23 November Winner Group C v Runner-up Group A
13:00 (AEDT)
23 November Winner Group D v Runner-up Group B
15:00 (AEDT)

Semi-finals

29 November Winner quarter-final 1 v Winner quarter-final 2
13:00 (AEDT)
29 November Winner quarter-final 3 v Winner quarter-final 4
15:00 (AEDT)

Final

Winner semi-final 1vWinner semi-final 2

Top goalscorers

As of 19 October 2025
RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ali Auglah Sydney Olympic 4
2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bruno Fornaroli Avondale FC 3
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aedon Kyra NWS Spirit
Flag of the United States.svg Jason Romero Preston Lions
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Joseph Scott Moreton City Excelsior
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Damian Tsekenis Marconi Stallions
5 Flag of South Sudan.svg Manyluak Aguek South Melbourne 2
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jarred Baker Broadmeadow Magic
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ciaran Bramwell Heidelberg United
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Cittadini North Eastern MetroStars
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Cian Cuba Avondale FC
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Gyles Davies Bayswater City
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Maxx Green Canberra Croatia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Bul Juach Heidelberg United
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Dredon Kelly Wests APIA
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Michael Konestabo NWS Spirit
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jordon Lampard South Melbourne
Flag of Japan.svg Seita Murai Moreton City Excelsior
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Andrew Pengelly Moreton City Excelsior
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lachlan Scott Wollongong Wolves
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Angus Taylor Heidelberg United
Flag of Japan.svg Yuki Uchida South Melbourne

See also

References

  1. "Football Australia unveils the "Australian Championship"". Australian Championship . 12 February 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Australian Championship Draw Confirmed With Historic Rivalries To Launch New Era". Australian Championship . 1 May 2025.
  3. "Football Australia Domestic Match Calendar 2025/26" (PDF).
  4. "Australian Championship unveiled by football's governing body". ABC News . Australian Associated Press. 12 February 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  5. Lynch, Joey (11 February 2025). "The Australian Championship: FA unveils Champions League-style second tier". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  6. Lynch, Joey (11 September 2025). "Australian Championship: Clubs, season start, all you need to know". ESPN Australia . Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  7. Greg, Dundas; Ward, Roy (20 August 2025). "'We can do it': Heidelberg's semi-pros back at work and eyeing another A-League upset". The Sydney Morning Herald . Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  8. "2025 Australian Championship Fixtures Announced". Football Australia . 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
  9. 1 2 "Australian Championship fixtures announced". The Greek Herald . 22 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
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  12. "Aus Championship: Broadmeadow Magic v Moreton City Excelsior". Austadiums. 16 October 2025. Archived from the original on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  13. "Aus Championship: Sydney Olympic v Broadmeadow Magic". Austadiums. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  14. "Aus Championship: South Melbourne v Moreton City Excelsior". Austadiums. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  15. "Aus Championship: Moreton City Excelsior v Sydney Olympic". Austadiums. 29 October 2025. Archived from the original on 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
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  17. "Aus Championship: Moreton City Excelsior v Broadmeadow Magic". Austadiums. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  18. "Aus Championship: Heidelberg United v Marconi Stallions". Austadiums. 12 October 2025. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  19. "Aus Championship: South Hobart v Wollongong Wolves". Austadiums. 13 October 2025. Archived from the original on 13 October 2025. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  20. "Aus Championship: Marconi Stallions v South Hobart". Austadiums. 18 October 2025. Archived from the original on 18 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  21. "Aus Championship: Wollongong Wolves v Heidelberg United". Austadiums. 18 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
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  26. "Aus Championship: Canberra Croatia v Preston Lions". Austadiums. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  27. "Aus Championship: NWS Spirit v Avondale FC". Austadiums. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  28. "Aus Championship: Preston Lions v Avondale FC". Austadiums. 24 October 2025. Archived from the original on 25 October 2025. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
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  30. "Aus Championship: NWS Spirit v Preston Lions". Austadiums. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  31. "Aus Championship: MetroStars v Wests Apia". Austadiums. 16 October 2025. Archived from the original on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  32. "Aus Championship: Sydney United 58 v Bayswater City". Austadiums. 16 October 2025. Archived from the original on 17 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
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  34. "Aus Championship: Bayswater City v MetroStars". Austadiums. 19 October 2025. Archived from the original on 19 October 2025. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
  35. "Aus Championship: Sydney United 58 v MetroStars". Austadiums. 25 October 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  36. "Aus Championship: Bayswater City v Wests Apia". Austadiums. 26 October 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  37. "Aus Championship: Wests Apia v MetroStars". Austadiums. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  38. "Aus Championship: Bayswater City v Sydney United 58". Austadiums. 2 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.