The Australian Championship is set to return bigger and better in 2026, building upon the foundations set in the inaugural season while introducing new teams, stories, matchups, and rules for the second edition.
Last year’s competition saw 16 teams enter Australia’s new second tier, with some returning to a stage they had yearned to compete on for decades, while others made their national debut, relishing the opportunity to showcase their skills to a wider audience.
This year, 16 teams will once again go on the hunt for the national title; 12 teams return to the Australian Championship for a second straight year, aiming to win it all. Meanwhile, four new teams will make their debut in the new national tournament, hoping to turn state dominance into national glory.
Here is your ultimate guide to the 2026 edition of the Australian Championship ahead of the opening game this Thursday Night.
What's new in 2026?
Penalty Shootout Bonus Point Model
The 2026 Australian Championship will see the introduction of the new Penalty Shootout Bonus Point Model. Under the new model, if a game ends level after 90 minutes during the group stages, the two sides will head to a penalty shootout where the winner of the shootout will take home two points and the loser will take home the regular one point for a draw.
The model is aimed at incentivising more attacking football during the 90 minutes, creating genuine excitement, and keeping fans and spectators engaged until the final kick.
READ MORE: Penalty Shootout Bonus Point Model – 2026 Australian Championship
Thursday night free-to-air coverage
In consultation with the competition broadcast partner SBS, this year the Australian Championship will see two matches every round live and free on SBS, including the brand new Thursday night free-to-air game.
Increasing from the lone Saturday afternoon free-to-air game, the Thursday night game is set to deliver more night and prime-time football while expanding the reach of the tournament to new audiences. SBS will exclusively broadcast Thursday night (SBS2) and Saturday (SBS) matches, while all other games stream on Football Australia's YouTube channel and SBS On Demand.
"With more prime-time football, better kick-off times for fans and an expanded broadcast schedule, there will be heightened interest in the 2026 Australian Championship season,” Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler said.
New Teams
Four new teams will make their Australian Championship debut this year after solidifying their dominance over their state competitors. The Oakleigh Cannons and the Sutherland Sharks will make their national competition debut after the Cannons won the NPL Victoria for the first time in five years, whilst the Sharks finished as the highest non-foundation side in the NPL NSW.
In addition to the Cannons and Sharks, two former National Soccer League (NSL) giants will return to the national stage in the form of Adelaide City and Lions FC.
Adelaide City, who won the NSL three times during their 27 seasons in the national top-tier competition, will welcome the best from across Australia back to Adelaide City Park. Meanwhile, the Lions will end a 38-year wait to play in a national competition and, after completing a state quadruple, the Lions will be a formidable opponent in their debut campaign.
Quickfire Team Guide
Adelaide City FC
After narrowly missing out on participating in the inaugural season, Adelaide City, the three-time NSL Champions, will feature on the national stage once again after last doing so in 2003. City completed a league and championship double in South Australia after holding off last year’s South Australia representative MetroStars and West Torrens Birkalla in a tight three-horse race for the premiership, before winning the Championship just weeks later once again against Birkalla, dramatically on penalties.
Founded: 1946
Home Ground: Adelaide City Park
Head Coach: Vas Parhas
How they qualified: NPL SA Premiers
NPL SA Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL SA Premiership, NPL SA Championship
Avondale FC
Avondale FC will be hoping to improve upon last year's quarter-final appearance and go even further in the second edition of the Australian Championship. The Avengers were unable to defend their NPL Victoria premiership in 2026, though ultimately had the last laugh after they defeated the new premiers in Oakleigh 4-3 on penalties in the NPL Victoria Grand Final at the end of September. Avondale will be without championship-winning coach Jonathan Germano, who ended his tenure at Avenger Park prior to the 2026 Australian Championship campaign.
Founded: 1984
Home Ground: Avenger Park
Head Coach: Unannounced
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL VIC Standing: 3rd
2026 Honours: NPL VIC Championship
Bayswater City SC
Bayswater City will once again represent Western Australia in the Australian Championship after becoming the first team in seven years to retain the state’s premiership. The back-to-back premiers and champions will be hoping to progress beyond the group stage this year after missing out on the knockouts on the final matchday of the inaugural season.
Founded: 1961
Home Ground: Frank Drago Reserve
Head Coach: Matthew Sparrow
How they qualified: NPL WA Premiers
NPL WA Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL WA Premiership, NPL WA Men's Top Four Cup
Broadmeadow Magic FC
The first non-foundation team to qualify for the 2026 Australian Championship, the Broadmeadow Magic return to the national stage after winning the Northern NSW premiership for a third consecutive year. Led by Golden Boot winner Luis Lara Delgado, who scored 29 goals in 22 games, the Magicians will aim to cause upsets in Group B as they open their campaign against Wests APIA FC on October 17th.
Founded: 1966
Home Ground: Magic Park
Head Coach: Jim Cresnar
How they qualified: NPL NNSW Premiers
NPL NNSW Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL NNSW Premiership
Canberra Croatia FC
Trailing in the NPL ACT premiership race with two games remaining, Canberra Croatia scored a 92nd-minute winner against title rivals Monaro Panthers in the penultimate round to take top spot, before going on to secure a second appearance in the Australian Championship. Having bowed out at the group stage in their maiden season, Canberra will open their 2026 campaign with a massive Croatian derby against Sydney United 58.
Founded: 1958
Home Ground: Deakin Stadium
Head Coach: Dean Ugrinic
How they qualified: NPL ACT Premiers
NPL ACT Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL ACT Premiership
Lions FC
Lions FC have enjoyed one of their most successful and memorable seasons in the club's long and illustrious history. After completing a state quadruple, the Lions are on the hunt for their fifth trophy of the year and their first national trophy since their triumph in the 1981 NSL Cup. Playing under the names of Hollandia and Brisbane Lions during their 11 years in the NSL, the 2026 Hahn Australia Cup semi-finalists are set up for a strong campaign ahead as they embark on the Australian Championship.
Founded: 1957
Home Ground: Luxury Paints Stadium
Head Coach: Dan Barber
How they qualified: NPL QLD Premiers
NPL QLD Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL QLD Premiership, NPL QLD Championship, Kappa Pro Series, Kappa Queensland Cup
Marconi Stallions FC
Last year’s Australian Championship finalists will be aiming to send their NPL NSW championship-winning coach, Peter Tsekenis, off with a national title as he prepares to leave Marconi Stallions at the end of the year. Marconi finished third in the NPL NSW after falling away in the premiership race in the closing weeks, before crashing out of the finals series in the first round. The Stallions will open their campaign with a long trip to Western Australia to face Bayswater City.
Founded: 1958
Home Ground: Marconi Stadium
Head Coach: Peter Tsekenis
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL NSW Standing: 3rd
Oakleigh Cannons FC
Oakleigh Cannons will make their Australian Championship debut this weekend after winning their first NPL Victoria premiership in five years and the third in their 54-year history. Captain Joe Guest became just the second player to win three NPL Men’s Victoria Gold Medals (Player of the Year), claiming the 2026 award after previous wins in 2019 and 2025. The Cannons narrowly missed out on completing the NPL Victoria premiership and championship double after going down to Avondale FC on penalties in the Grand Final.
Founded: 1972
Home Ground: Jack Edwards Reserve
Head Coach: Chris Taylor
How they qualified: NPL VIC Premiers
NPL VIC Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL VIC Premiership
Preston Lions FC
2026 has been a successful year for the Preston Lions, who won their first piece of major silverware in 19 years after overcoming Heidelberg United in the Dockerty Cup at the start of August. Preston, who finished 4th in NPL Victoria, will be aiming to advance to the knockout stages of the Australian Championship after failing to do so in the inaugural campaign. The Lions will host the opening game of the 2026 Australian Championship this Thursday Night at Genis Steel Stadium against the Wollongong Wolves.
Founded: 1947
Home Ground: Genis Steel Stadium
Head Coach: Zoran Markovski
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL VIC Standing: 4th
2026 Honours: Dockerty Cup
South Hobart FC
South Hobart will represent the 'Apple Isle’ once again after going back-to-back in the NPL Tasmania. South completed the premiership and championship double after losing just one game all season. Hobart, who fell at the group stage last year, will kick off their campaign in Queensland against Lions FC.
Founded: 1910
Home Ground: D'Arcy Street (South Hobart Oval)
Head Coach: Peter Edwards
How they qualified: NPL TAS Premiers
NPL TAS Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL TAS Premiership, NPL TAS Championship
South Melbourne FC
South Melbourne have gone from strength to strength since winning the Australian Championship last December. Having reached the OFC Pro League final in May and now become the first-ever NPL side to lift the Hahn Australia Cup, Hellas will be favourites to win the national second-tier competition once again. The inaugural champions will begin their title defence away to Sutherland Sharks at Seymour Shaw Park this Saturday afternoon.
Founded: 1959
Home Ground: Lakeside Stadium
Head Coach: Unannounced
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL VIC Standing: 5th
2026 Honours: Hahn Australia Cup
Sutherland Sharks
The Sutherland Sharks will continue their rebuild in the Australian Championship after finishing as the highest non-foundation club in the NPL NSW. After failing to win any of their first three games of the season, David Perkovic, who led NWS Spirit to a Championship berth last year, turned things around at the Sutherland club, securing their spot with a game to spare. The Sharks will welcome South Melbourne on the opening weekend before facing Sydney United 58 and Canberra Croatia in a fierce Group A.
Founded: 1930
Home Ground: Seymour Shaw Park
Head Coach: David Perkovic
How they qualified: Highest non-foundation club
NPL NSW Standing: 4th
Sydney Olympic FC
Sydney Olympic will be looking to right the wrongs of their 2026 NPL NSW season when they kick off their second Australian Championship campaign this weekend. With just six wins from 30 games, the historic Greek giants were relegated from the NPL NSW at the end of August for the first time in the club’s history. However, a host of new signings, including former Socceroos Dimitri Petratos and Luke Brattan, will bolster a new-look Olympic side that takes on Oakleigh Cannons in their opening game.
Founded: 1957
Home Ground: Sydney Olympic Athletics Centre
Head Coach: Michael Melito
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL NSW Standing: 16th
Sydney United 58 FC
After failing to win any of their six group games last year, Sydney United 58 have completely turned themselves around and enter this year's Championship as one of the competition's strongest teams. After welcoming back veteran head coach Miro Vlastelica at the start of the year, United went on to complete a state double, winning the Waratah Cup and NPL NSW Championship. A Croatian derby against Canberra Croatia awaits them in Round One before a massive trip down to Lakeside Stadium to face South Melbourne in an NSL rematch.
Founded: 1958
Home Ground: Sydney United Sports Centre
Head Coach: Miro Vlastelica
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL NSW Standing: 2nd
2026 Honours: NPL NSW Championship, Waratah Cup
Wests APIA FC
Wests APIA FC added more silverware to the trophy cabinet in 2026 after finishing the NPL NSW season atop the table, holding off rivals Sydney United 58 and Marconi Stallions to secure a fourth consecutive season with a major title. Defeats in the Waratah Cup Final and NPL NSW Final also ensued during 2026 for the Marronazzuri. With trips to Adelaide City, Avondale FC and Broadmeadow Magic awaiting them, they will be strong contenders once again.
Founded: 1954
Home Ground: Lambert Park
Head Coach: Franco Parisi
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL NSW Standing: 1st
2026 Honours: NPL NSW Premiership
Wollongong Wolves FC
The Wollongong Wolves almost pulled off the great escape in the group stages last year, narrowly missing out on the knockout stages by a single goal. The Wolves welcome their former number 21, Nicholas Olsen, back to the club after he spent the 2026 NPL NSW season with rivals Sutherland Sharks. The Wolves, who were unable to end their six-year finals drought without finals football, were strong during the first half of the NPL NSW season before losing momentum in the later stages. Wollongong will launch another quest for another national title in the opening game this Thursday night against the Preston Lions.
Founded: 1980
Home Ground: Macedonia Park
Head Coach: Luke Wilkshire
How they qualified: Foundation Club
NPL NSW Standing: 11th
Tune into the Australian Championship season opener between the Preston Lions and the Wollongong Wolves this Thursday night, live and exclusively on SBS2 and then SBS, SBS On Demand and Football Australia’s YouTube channel for the remainder of the Australian Championship season.
Tickets and membership for all 55 games during the 2026 Australian Championship can be purchased HERE!