2025–26 A-League Men

A-League Men
Season2025–26
Dates17 October 2025 – 23 May 2026
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 7 May 2025.

The 2025–26 A-League Men, known as the Isuzu UTE A-League for sponsorship reasons, is the 49th season of national level men's soccer in Australia, and the 21st since the establishment of the competition as the A-League in 2004. Auckland FC are the defending premiers while Melbourne City are the defending champions.

Clubs

The number of clubs may be reduced from 13 in the 2024–25 season to 12, following the removal of Western United by Football Australia for financial reasons,[1] which is currently under appeal.[2]

Stadiums and locations

Twelve clubs are participating in the 2025–26 season.

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Club City Home ground Capacity
Adelaide United Adelaide Coopers Stadium 16,500
Auckland FC Auckland Go Media Stadium 25,000
Brisbane Roar Brisbane Suncorp Stadium 52,500
Kayo Stadium 10,000
Central Coast Mariners Gosford polytec Stadium 20,059
Macarthur FC Sydney Campbelltown Sports Stadium 17,500[3]
Melbourne City Melbourne AAMI Park 30,050
Melbourne Victory Melbourne AAMI Park 30,050
Newcastle Jets Newcastle McDonald Jones Stadium 30,000
Perth Glory Perth HBF Park 20,500
Sydney FC Sydney Allianz Stadium 42,500[4]
Wellington Phoenix Wellington Sky Stadium 34,500
Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney CommBank Stadium 30,000
Western United[a] Melbourne Ironbark Fields 5,000

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor
Adelaide United Brazil Airton Andrioli Australia Craig Goodwin[6] UCAN[7] Flinders University[8]
CG FinTech[note 1][9]
Auckland FC Australia Steve Corica Japan Hiroki Sakai[10] New Balance[11] Anchor[12]
Go Media[note 1][13]
Brisbane Roar Australia Michael Valkanis Republic of Ireland Jay O'Shea[14] Cikers[15] Vacant
Central Coast Mariners England Mark Jackson Australia Trent Sainsbury[16] O'Neills[17] polytec[18]
Macarthur FC Australia Mile Sterjovski Australia Luke Brattan[19] Kelme[20] SipEnergy[21]
Melbourne City Australia Aurelio Vidmar Australia Aziz Behich[22] Puma[23][24] Etihad Airways[24]
Melbourne Victory Australia Arthur Diles Portugal Roderick Miranda[25] Macron[26] Turkish Airlines[27]
Newcastle Jets Australia Mark Milligan Australia Kosta Grozos[28] New Balance[29] Brydens Lawyers[30]
Perth Glory Australia David Zdrilic Australia Adam Taggart[31] Macron[32] La Vida Homes[33]
Sydney FC Australia Ufuk Talay Australia Rhyan Grant[34] Under Armour[35] Macquarie University[36]
Wellington Phoenix Australia Giancarlo Italiano New Zealand Alex Rufer[37] Dynasty Sport[38] Entelar Group[39]
Western Sydney Wanderers Australia Alen Stajcic Australia Lawrence Thomas[40] Adidas[41] Voltaren[42]
Turner Freeman Lawyers[note 1][43]
Western United[a] Australia John Aloisi Australia Ben Garuccio[44] Kappa[45] Sharp[45]

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position on table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Newcastle Jets Australia Robert Stanton End of contract 5 May 2025[46] Pre-season Australia Mark Milligan 6 May 2025[47]
Brisbane Roar Australia Ruben Zadkovich Mutual consent 6 May 2025[48] Australia Michael Valkanis 7 May 2025[49]
Adelaide United Australia Carl Veart End of contract 10 May 2025[50] Brazil Airton Andrioli 26 May 2025[51]

Foreign players

See also: A-League Men transfers for 2025–26 season
Club Visa 1 Visa 2 Visa 3 Visa 4 Visa 5 Non-visa foreigner(s) Former player(s)
Adelaide United Netherlands Julian Kwaaitaal Netherlands Joshua Smits Netherlands Bart Vriends
Auckland FC Belgium Louis Verstraete Chile Felipe Gallegos England Sam Cosgrove Japan Hiroki Sakai Uruguay Guillermo May Fiji Dan Hall[b]
Malta Jake Brimmer[b]
Brisbane Roar Bosnia and Herzegovina Milorad Stajić England Chris Long Republic of Ireland Jay O'Shea Greece Georgios Vrakas[b]
New Zealand James McGarry[b]
United States Marcus Ferkranus[b]
Central Coast Mariners England Ryan Edmondson Northern Ireland Alfie McCalmont New Zealand Storm Roux[b]
Macarthur FC Croatia Šime Gržan France Damien Da Silva Poland Filip Kurto South Korea Ji Dong-won
Melbourne City Argentina Germán Ferreyra Austria Andreas Kuen France Samuel Souprayen Japan Takeshi Kanamori Timor-Leste Beckham Baker[b]
Melbourne Victory Brazil Clarismario Santos Greece Nikos Vergos Portugal Roderick Miranda Ivory Coast Adama Traoré[c]
Newcastle Jets Republic of Ireland Joe Shaughnessy Japan Kota Mizunuma New Zealand Lachlan Bayliss[b]
Perth Glory England Luke Amos England Scott Wootton New Zealand Sam Sutton Vanuatu Brian Kaltak South Sudan Joel Anasmo[b]
Sydney FC Brazil Douglas Costa Brazil Léo Sena Democratic Republic of the Congo Marcel Tisserand England Joe Lolley
Wellington Phoenix Japan Hideki Ishige Japan Kazuki Nagasawa Nigeria Ifeanyi Eze Nigeria Josh Oluwayemi
Western Sydney Wanderers Bulgaria Bozhidar Kraev New Zealand Kosta Barbarouses Spain Juan Mata Iraq Mohamed Al-Taay[b]
Malta Dylan Scicluna[b]
Western United[a] Japan Hiroshi Ibusuki Japan Tomoki Imai Iraq Charbel Shamoon[b]
Lebanon Khoder Kaddour[b]
New Zealand Luka Coveny[b]
  1. ^ a b c Western United's license was revoked on 8 August 2025.[1] The decision has been appealed by the club.[5]
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Australian citizens (or New Zealand citizens, in the case of Auckland FC and/or Wellington Phoenix) who have chosen to represent another national team
  3. ^ Those players who were born and started their professional career abroad but have since gained Australian citizenship (or New Zealand citizenship, in the case of Auckland FC and/or Wellington Phoenix);[52]

Regular season

The regular season is made up of a full home-and-away 24-match schedule for each club, plus two/four extra rounds, for a total of 26 matches played. The top six qualify for a finals series.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Adelaide United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for AFC Champions League Elite and Finals series
2 Auckland FC[a] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for Finals series[b]
3 Brisbane Roar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 Central Coast Mariners 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
5 Macarthur FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
6 Melbourne City 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 Melbourne Victory 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 Newcastle Jets 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Perth Glory 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Qualification for 2026 Australia Cup play-offs
10 Sydney FC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Wellington Phoenix[a] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
12 Western Sydney Wanderers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Western United (W) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrawn[c]
First match(es) will be played: 17 October 2025. Source: A-Leagues
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) goals scored; 4) wins; 5) head-to-head results; 5a) head-to-head points; 5b) head-to-head goal difference; 6) Fair Play points; 7) away goal difference; 8) away goals per match; 9) home goal difference; 10) home goals per match; 11) toss of a coin in an event of a tie of two clubs.
(W) Withdrawn before the start of the season.
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix cannot qualify for Asian Football Confederation competitions as they are based in New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation.
  2. ^ The top two teams enter the finals series at the semi-finals, while the teams ranked third to sixth enter the finals series at the elimination-finals.
  3. ^ Western United's license was revoked on 8 August 2025.[53] The decision has been appealed by the club.[54]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Away kit

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Rugari, Vince. "Aloisi 'devastated' as former champions Western United stripped of A-League licence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  2. ^ "Western United Club Statement". Western United. 8 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Campbelltown Stadium". austadiums.com. Austadiums. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  4. ^ "Allianz Stadium". Austadiums. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  5. ^ "Western United Club Statement". Western United. 8 August 2025.
  6. ^ "Craig Goodwin Returns as Captain as Young South Australians Step Up into Leadership Group". Adelaide United. 5 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Reds unveil majestic home kit for 2022/23". Adelaide United. 26 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Reds and Flinders University extend partnership for further two years". Adelaide United. 25 August 2022.
  9. ^ "CG FinTech Announced as Front-of-Shirt Sponsor for Adelaide United Men's ISUZU-UTE A-League Away Shirt for 2024/25 Season". Adelaide United. 29 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Sakai Appointed New Auckland FC Captain; Two Vice Captains Named". Auckland FC. 15 October 2024.
  11. ^ Sacha Pisani (14 March 2024). "Historic day for A-Leagues as new Auckland team reveals name, logo and inaugural jersey". A-Leagues.
  12. ^ "Auckland FC announce Japanese International Hiroki Sakai". The New Zealand Herald. 25 July 2024. The club also used the announcement to debut a new front of shirt sponsor with Anchor becoming the club's first major commercial partner.
  13. ^ "Three overseas imports bring quality and Experience to Auckland FC". Auckland FC. 17 September 2024. Also unveiled today was our new away white away kit featuring new front of shirt sponsor, Go Media
  14. ^ Brisbane Roar [@brisbaneroar] (12 October 2024). "Jay O'Shea © We're delighted to confirm that Jay O'Shea has been appointed as our club captain ahead of the 2024/25 season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Brisbane Roar Announces Apparel Partnership with Cikers Australia". Brisbane Roar. 5 July 2024.
  16. ^ "Trent Sainsbury named Central Coast Mariners Isuzu UTE A-League captain". Central Coast Mariners. 14 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Mariners reveal O'Neills as Official Merchandise and Kit Supplier". Central Coast Mariners. 9 July 2025.
  18. ^ "polytec to Feature as Front of Shirt Sponsor for A-League Men's Team for Next Five Years". Central Coast Mariners. 23 August 2023.
  19. ^ Macarthur FC [@mfcbulls] (23 February 2025). "No one better 🤝 Luke Brattan has been named Bulls captain for the remainder of the 2024/25 season!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  20. ^ "Macarthur FC continue their Apparel Partnership for the Next Three Years". Macarthur FC. 12 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Macarthur FC Announces SipEnergy as Major Partner". Macarthur FC. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Aziz Behich named Men's Captain". Melbourne City. 19 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Manchester City replaces Nike with Puma in kit deal". BBC News. 28 February 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Kit drop: City launch 2022/23 range". Melbourne City. 14 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Melbourne Victory announce Men and Women's captains". Melbourne Victory. 11 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Victory joins forces with Macron". Melbourne Victory. 30 July 2021.
  27. ^ "Melbourne Victory lands Turkish Airlines as its new Principal Partner". Melbourne Victory. 4 March 2024.
  28. ^ "Kosta Grozos announced as Newcastle Jets A-League Men's Captain". Newcastle Jets. 14 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Newcastle Jets Announce New Balance as Official Apparel Partner". Newcastle Jets. 25 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Newcastle Jets announce Brydens Lawyers as 2024/25 Major Partner and Official Legal Partner". Newcastle Jets. 26 September 2024.
  31. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 October 2024). "Taggart, Dalton and Zogg to lead Glory in 2024/25 A-Leagues season". Perth Glory.
  32. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 January 2021). "Glory confirms four-year extension to Macron partnership". Perth Glory.
  33. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 March 2024). "La Vida Homes confirmed as Glory's new Principal Partner". Perth Glory.
  34. ^ "Rhyan Grant named Sydney FC's 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men's Captain". Sydney FC. 29 July 2024.
  35. ^ "Sydney FC Unveil Under Armour 2024–25 Home And Away Kits". Sydney FC. 16 September 2024.
  36. ^ "Sydney FC announce five year principal partnership with Macquarie University". Sydney FC. 6 October 2023.
  37. ^ Rollo, Phillip (9 October 2022). "Wellington Phoenix captain's injury 'every footballer's worst nightmare'". Stuff.
  38. ^ "Dynasty Sport to kit the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 3 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Entelar Group front-of-shirt for men's new home kit". Wellington Phoenix. 10 July 2025.
  40. ^ Dodd, James (14 October 2024). "Key Wanderers starting role 'up for grabs' after major injury blow ahead of Sydney Derby". A-Leagues. Thomas, who was appointed Wanderers captain following the departure of Brazilian defender Marcelo....
  41. ^ "Three stripes for three years: Wanderers announce three-year partnership with Adidas". Western Sydney Wanderers. 4 July 2023.
  42. ^ "Voltaren sign two-year Co-Major Partnership extension". Western Sydney Wanderers. 16 September 2021.
  43. ^ "Turner Freeman Lawyers extend partnership for next three seasons". Western Sydney Wanderers. 30 September 2022.
  44. ^ Hughes, Nick (10 October 2024). "Ben Garuccio named historic Western United captain for 2024/25". Western United.
  45. ^ a b Hughes, Nick (26 September 2024). "Western United launches iconic 2024/25 kits". Western United.
  46. ^ "Newcastle Jets Statement". Newcastle Jets. 3 April 2025.
  47. ^ Gardiner, James (6 May 2025). "'There is a great core of players here': New coach unveils plans for Newcastle Jets". The Canberra Times.
  48. ^ Monteverde, Marco (6 May 2025). "Michael Valkanis to take over as Brisbane Roar coach following Ruben Zadkovich's axing". The Advertiser.
  49. ^ Monteverde, Marco (7 May 2025). "New Brisbane coach Michael Valkanis keen to return Roar to A-League summit". news.com.au.
  50. ^ Monteverde, Marco (10 April 2025). "Adelaide United to part ways with coach Carl Veart at end of season". news.com.au.
  51. ^ "Airton Andrioli Appointed as Adelaide United's New Men's Head Coach". Adelaide United. 26 May 2025.
  52. ^ "A-League Collective Bargaining Agreement – 2008/9 – 2012/13" (PDF). Australian Professional Footballers' Football Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
  53. ^ Rugari, Vince (8 August 2025). "Aloisi 'devastated' as former champions Western United stripped of A-League licence". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
  54. ^ "Western United Club Statement". Western United. 8 August 2025.
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