2025 Australian Championship

Australian Championship
Season	2025
Dates	10 October – 6 December 2025
Matches played	8
Goals scored	24 (3 per match)
Biggest home win	Avondale FC 3–1 Canberra Croatia (12 Oct)
Biggest away win	South Hobart 1–3 Wollongong Wolves (12 Oct)
Highest scoring	South Melbourne 3–2 Sydney Olympic (10 Oct); Moreton City Excelsior 3–2 Broadmeadow Magic (12 Oct);
	2026 → All statistics correct as of 11 October 2025.

Last updated October 13, 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, and will begin on 10 October and end on 6 December.^[2]^[3]

Teams

30km
19miles

7km
4.3miles

900km
559miles

North Eastern
MetroStars

Moreton City Excelsior

Canberra Croatia

Broadmeadow Magic

Bayswater City

Locations of clubs in Sydney and Wollongong (top), Melbourne (middle), and the rest of Australia (bottom).

● Foundation clubs, ● NPL qualifiers

Sixteen clubs will field teams into the 2025 edition of the Australian Championship. 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, already qualified as a foundation club, thus their berth was granted to the league's second-placed team, Heidelberg United.^[6]^[7]

List of 2025 Australian Championship clubs
Team	City	Home ground	Cap.
Avondale FC ^‡	Melbourne	Avenger Park	2,500
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 Centre	5,000

‡	Qualified as a foundation club
	Qualified via the NPL

Group stage

The group stage will be played from 10 October to 16 November.^[8]^[9] The draw 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 the groups.^[10]

All times listed are local time.

Group A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	SMB	MCE	SOL	BMM
1	South Melbourne	1	1	0	3	2	+1	3	Finals series	—	19 Oct	3–2	8 Nov
2	Moreton City Excelsior	1	1	0	3	2	+1	3	Finals series	8 Nov	—	26 Oct	2 Nov
3	Sydney Olympic	1	0	1	2	3	−1	0		1 Nov	8 Nov	—	19 Oct
4	Broadmeadow Magic	1	0	1	2	3	−1	0		26 Oct	2–3	16 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on 10 October. Source: Football Australia

10 October1	South Melbourne	3–2	Sydney Olympic	Melbourne
19:00 (AEDT)	Uchida 47' Lavale 51' Lampard 87'	Source	Auglah 12' Feutz 84'	Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Attendance: 6,825 Referee: Sam Kelly

12 October1	Broadmeadow Magic	2–3	Moreton City Excelsior	Newcastle
13:00 (AEDT)	Baker 41' Nancarrow 79'	Source	Scott 12', 59' Murai 90+8'	Stadium: Magic Park Referee: Eric Saba

19 October2	Sydney Olympic	v	Broadmeadow Magic	Sydney
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Jubilee Oval

19 October2	South Melbourne	v	Moreton City Excelsior	Melbourne
16:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Lakeside Stadium

26 October3	Broadmeadow Magic	v	South Melbourne	Newcastle
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Magic Park

26 October3	Moreton City Excelsior	v	Sydney Olympic	Brisbane
12:00 AEST (UTC+10)		Source		Stadium: Perry Park

1 November4	Sydney Olympic	v	South Melbourne	Sydney
15:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Jubilee Oval

2 November4	Moreton City Excelsior	v	Broadmeadow Magic	Brisbane
12:00 AEST (UTC+10)		Source		Stadium: Perry Park

8 November5	Sydney Olympic	v	Moreton City Excelsior	Sydney
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Jubilee Oval

8 November5	South Melbourne	v	Broadmeadow Magic	Melbourne
15:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Lakeside Stadium

14 November6	Moreton City Excelsior	v	South Melbourne	Brisbane
18:00 AEST (UTC+10)		Source		Stadium: Perry Park

16 November6	Broadmeadow Magic	v	Sydney Olympic	Newcastle
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Magic Park

Group B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	WOL	HEI	MAR	SHO
1	Wollongong Wolves	1	1	0	3	1	+2	3	Finals series	—	18 Oct	15 Nov	2 Nov
2	Heidelberg United	1	1	0	1	0	+1	3	Finals series	9 Nov	—	1–0	25 Oct
3	Marconi Stallions	1	0	1	0	1	−1	0		25 Oct	31 Oct	—	18 Oct
4	South Hobart	1	0	1	1	3	−2	0		1–3	16 Nov	9 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on =12 October. Source: Football Australia

12 October1	Heidelberg United	1–0	Marconi Stallions	Melbourne
13:00 (AEDT)	Theodoropoulos 57'	Source		Stadium: Olympic Park Referee: Declan Woods

12 October1	South Hobart	1–3	Wollongong Wolves	Hobart
13:00 (AEDT)	Yost 41'	Source	Masciovecchio 36' Yamamura 64' James 90+3'	Stadium: D'Arcy Street Referee: Daniel Cook

18 October2	Marconi Stallions	v	South Hobart	Sydney
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Marconi Stadium

18 October2	Wollongong Wolves	v	Heidelberg United	Wollongong
15:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre

25 October3	Marconi Stallions	v	Wollongong Wolves	Sydney
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Marconi Stadium

25 October3	Heidelberg United	v	South Hobart	Melbourne
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Olympic Park

31 October4	Marconi Stallions	v	Heidelberg United	Sydney
19:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Marconi Stadium

2 November4	Wollongong Wolves	v	South Hobart	Wollongong
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre

9 November5	South Hobart	v	Marconi Stallions	Hobart
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: D'Arcy Street

9 November5	Heidelberg United	v	Wollongong Wolves	Melbourne
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Olympic Park

15 November6	Wollongong Wolves	v	Marconi Stallions	Wollongong
15:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Collegians Sports Centre

16 November6	South Hobart	v	Heidelberg United	Hobart
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: D'Arcy Street

Group C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	AVO	NWS	PRE	CCR
1	Avondale FC	1	1	0	0	3	1	+2	3	Finals series	—	9 Nov	15 Nov	3–1
2	NWS Spirit	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1	Finals series	18 Oct	—	2 Nov	26 Nov
3	Preston Lions	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1		24 Oct	1–1	—	8 Nov
4	Canberra Croatia	1	0	0	1	1	3	−2	0		1 Nov	16 Nov	19 Oct	—

Updated to match(es) played on 11 October. Source: Football Australia

11 October1	Preston Lions	1–1	NWS Spirit	Melbourne
15:00 (AEDT)	Romero 38'	Source	Jackson-Brown 90+3'	Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium Attendance: 4,241 Referee: Jock Quartermain

12 October1	Avondale FC	3–1	Canberra Croatia	Melbourne
16:30 (AEDT)	Fornaroli 59' Ott 70' Cianci 90+4'	Source	Yoshida 73'	Stadium: Avenger Park Referee: Jack Morgan

18 October2	NWS Spirit	v	Avondale FC	Sydney
16:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Christie Park

19 October2	Canberra Croatia	v	Preston Lions	Canberra
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Deakin Stadium

24 October3	Preston Lions	v	Avondale FC	Melbourne
19:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium

26 October3	NWS Spirit	v	Canberra Croatia	Sydney
16:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Christie Park

1 November4	Canberra Croatia	v	Avondale FC	Canberra
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Deakin Stadium

2 November4	NWS Spirit	v	Preston Lions	Sydney
16:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Christie Park

8 November5	Preston Lions	v	Canberra Croatia	Melbourne
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Genis Steel Stadium

9 November5	Avondale FC	v	NWS Spirit	Melbourne
16:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Avenger Park

15 November6	Avondale FC	v	Preston Lions	Melbourne
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Avenger Park

16 November6	Canberra Croatia	v	NWS Spirit	Canberra
13:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Deakin Stadium

Group D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	APL	BWC	SUD	MET
1	Wests APIA	1	1	0	0	1	0	+1	3	Finals series	—	16 Nov	17 Oct	2 Nov
2	Bayswater City	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1	Finals series	26 Oct	—	2 Nov	19 Oct
3	Sydney United 58	1	0	1	0	1	1	0	1		7 Nov	1–1	—	26 Oct
4	North Eastern MetroStars	1	0	0	1	0	1	−1	0		0–1	9 Nov	16 Nov	—

Updated to match(es) played on 11 October. Source: Football Australia

11 October1	North Eastern MetroStars	0–1	Wests APIA	Adelaide
12:30 (ACDT)		Source	Segreto 58'	Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve Referee: Tom Brinkworth

12 October1	Sydney United 58	1–1	Bayswater City	Sydney
16:30 (AEDT)	De Oliveira 70'	Source	Stephens 90+4'	Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre Referee: Jake Rose

17 October2	Wests APIA	v	Sydney United 58	Sydney
19:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Leichhardt Oval

19 October2	Bayswater City	v	North Eastern MetroStars	Perth
13:30 AWST (UTC+8)		Source		Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve

26 October3	Sydney United 58	v	North Eastern MetroStars	Sydney
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre

26 October3	Bayswater City	v	Wests APIA	Perth
13:30 AWST (UTC+8)		Source		Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve

2 November4	Wests APIA	v	North Eastern MetroStars	Sydney
13:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Leichhardt Oval

2 November4	Bayswater City	v	Sydney United 58	Perth
13:30 AWST (UTC+8)		Source		Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve

7 November5	Sydney United 58	v	Wests APIA	Sydney
19:00 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre

9 November5	North Eastern MetroStars	v	Bayswater City	Adelaide
16:00 ACDT (UTC+10:30)		Source		Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve

16 November6	North Eastern MetroStars	v	Sydney United 58	Adelaide
12:30 ACDT (UTC+10:30)		Source		Stadium: T.K. Shutter Reserve

16 November6	Wests APIA	v	Bayswater City	Sydney
16:30 AEDT (UTC+11)		Source		Stadium: Leichhardt Oval

Finals series

The finals series will be played from 22 November to 6 December. 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.^[8]^[9]

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

6 December

15:00 AEDT

Winner semi-final 1	v	Winner semi-final 2

Top goalscorers

As of 12 October 2025

Rank	Player	Club	Goals
1	Joseph Scott	Moreton City Excelsior	2
2	multiple players		1

References

↑ "Football Australia unveils the "Australian Championship"". Australian Championship . 12 February 2025.
1 2 "Australian Championship Draw Confirmed With Historic Rivalries To Launch New Era". Australian Championship . 1 May 2025.
↑ "Football Australia Domestic Match Calendar 2025/26" (PDF).
↑ "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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
1 2 "Australian Championship fixtures announced". The Greek Herald . 22 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
1 2 "2025 Australian Championship Fixtures Announced". Football Australia . 20 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
↑ "2025 Australian Championship Fixtures Announced". Football Australia . 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.

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[1] "Football Australia unveils the "Australian Championship"". Australian Championship . 12 February 2025.

[draw-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.

[schedule-1-8] 1 2 "Australian Championship fixtures announced". The Greek Herald . 22 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.

[schedule-2-9] 1 2 "2025 Australian Championship Fixtures Announced". Football Australia . 20 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 September 2025. Retrieved 22 September 2025.

[10] "2025 Australian Championship Fixtures Announced". Football Australia . 20 August 2025. Retrieved 20 August 2025.

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