2025–26 A-League Men

A-League Men
Season2025–26
Dates17 October 2025 – 23 May 2026
AFC Champions League TwoNewcastle Jets
Matches54
Goals127 (2.35 per match)
Top goalscorerAlexander Badolato
Max Caputo
Sam Cosgrove
Ifeanyi Eze
Joe Lolley
Harry Sawyer
Al Hassan Toure
(4 goals each)
Biggest home winMelbourne City 4–0 Perth Glory
(25 October 2025)
Biggest away winNewcastle Jets 1–4 Sydney FC
(1 November 2025)
Highest scoringNewcastle Jets 5–2 Melbourne Victory
(24 October 2025)
Longest winning run4 matches
Sydney FC
Longest unbeaten run6 matches
Brisbane Roar
Longest winless run5 matches
Central Coast Mariners
Longest losing run3 matches
Adelaide United
Central Coast Mariners
Melbourne Victory
Newcastle Jets
Perth Glory
Highest attendance22,993
Auckland FC 3–1 Wellington Phoenix
(6 December 2025)
Lowest attendance1,942
Central Coast Mariners 1–2 Auckland FC
(12 December 2025)
Total attendance422,497
Average attendance7,972
2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 23 December 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 is reduced from 13 in the 2024–25 season to 12, following the removal of Western United by Football Australia for financial reasons.[1]

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 27,700 (new capacity)
Brisbane Roar Brisbane Suncorp Stadium 52,500
Kayo Stadium 10,000
Sunshine Coast Sunshine Coast Stadium 20,000
Central Coast Mariners Gosford Polytec Stadium 20,059
Macarthur FC Sydney Campbelltown Sports Stadium 17,500[2]
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[3]
Leichhardt Oval 20,000
Wellington Phoenix Wellington Sky Stadium 34,500
Christchurch Apollo Projects Stadium 17,104
Western Sydney Wanderers Sydney CommBank Stadium 30,000

Personnel and kits

Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Kit sponsor
Adelaide United Airton Andrioli Craig Goodwin[4] UCAN[5] Mega Rewards[6]
1KOMMA5°[note 1][7]
Auckland FC Steve Corica Hiroki Sakai[8] New Balance[9] ANZ[10]
Brisbane Roar Michael Valkanis Jay O'Shea[11] Cikers[12] Value Dental Centres[13]
Central Coast Mariners Warren Moon (caretaker) Trent Sainsbury[14] O'Neills[15] polytec[16]
Macarthur FC Mile Sterjovski Luke Brattan[17] Kelme[18][19] SipEnergy[20][19]
Melbourne City Aurelio Vidmar Aziz Behich[21] Puma[22][23] Etihad Airways[23]
Melbourne Victory Arthur Diles Roderick Miranda[24] Macron[25] Turkish Airlines[26]
Newcastle Jets Mark Milligan Kosta Grozos[27] New Balance[28] Emerald Horizon[29]
Perth Glory Adam Griffiths Adam Taggart
Scott Wootton[30] 		Macron[31] La Vida Homes[32]
Sydney FC Ufuk Talay Rhyan Grant[33] Under Armour[34] Macquarie University[35]
Wellington Phoenix Giancarlo Italiano Alex Rufer[36] Dynasty Sport[37] Entelar Group[38]
Oppo[note 1][39]
Western Sydney Wanderers Alen Stajcic Lawrence Thomas[40] Adidas[41] Bathla[42]
Turner Freeman Lawyers[note 1][43]

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position on table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Newcastle Jets Robert Stanton End of contract 5 May 2025[44] Pre-season Mark Milligan 6 May 2025[45]
Brisbane Roar Ruben Zadkovich Mutual consent 6 May 2025[46] Michael Valkanis 7 May 2025[47]
Adelaide United Carl Veart End of contract 10 May 2025[48] Airton Andrioli 26 May 2025[49]
Central Coast Mariners Mark Jackson Signed by Buriram United 10 October 2025[50][51] Warren Moon (caretaker) 15 October 2025[52]
Perth Glory David Zdrilic Sacked 28 October 2025[53] 12th Adam Griffiths (caretaker) 31 October 2025[54]
Adam Griffiths (caretaker) Promoted to full-time N/A 5th Adam Griffiths 16 December 2025[55]

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 Anselmo Julian Kwaaitaal Joshua Smits Bart Vriends Juan Muñiz
Auckland FC Louis Verstraete Felipe Gallegos Sam Cosgrove Hiroki Sakai Guillermo May Dan Hall[a]
Jake Brimmer[a]
Brisbane Roar Milorad Stajić Youstin Salas Chris Long Georgios Vrakas[a]
James McGarry[a]
Jay O'Shea[b]
Central Coast Mariners Ryan Edmondson Alfie McCalmont Storm Roux[a]
Macarthur FC Šime Gržan Damien Da Silva Rafael Durán Filip Kurto Ji Dong-won
Melbourne City Germán Ferreyra Andreas Kuen Samuel Souprayen Takeshi Kanamori Elbasan Rashani Mathew Baker[a]
Melbourne Victory Clarismario Santos Nikos Vergos Roderick Miranda Juan Mata Adama Traoré[b]
Newcastle Jets Joe Shaughnessy Kota Mizunuma Lucas Scicluna[a]
Lachlan Bayliss[a]
Perth Glory Luke Amos Scott Wootton Sam Sutton Brian Kaltak Tom Lawrence Charbel Shamoon[a]
Joel Anasmo[a]
Callum Timmins[b]
Sydney FC Marcel Tisserand Joe Lolley Piero Quispe Víctor Campuzano
Wellington Phoenix Manjrekar James Hideki Ishige Kazuki Nagasawa Ifeanyi Eze Josh Oluwayemi Ramy Najjarine[a]
Western Sydney Wanderers Bozhidar Kraev Kosta Barbarouses Mohamed Al-Taay[a]
Dylan Scicluna[a]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Australian citizens (or New Zealand citizens, in the case of Auckland FC and/or Wellington Phoenix) who have chosen to represent another national team
  2. ^ a b c 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)[56]

Regular season

The regular season is made up of a full home-and-away 22-match schedule for each club, plus four extra rounds, for a total of 26 matches played. The top six will qualify for the finals series.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Auckland FC[a] 9 6 2 1 14 7 +7 20 Qualification for Finals series[b]
2 Sydney FC 9 6 0 3 15 7 +8 18 Qualification for AFC Champions League Elite and Finals series[b]
3 Brisbane Roar 9 4 3 2 9 5 +4 15 Qualification for Finals series[b]
4 Melbourne City 9 3 4 2 10 7 +3 13
5 Adelaide United 9 4 0 5 13 11 +2 12
6 Newcastle Jets (X) 9 4 0 5 16 17 −1 12 Qualification for AFC Champions League Two and Finals series[c]
7 Macarthur FC 9 3 3 3 7 9 −2 12
8 Wellington Phoenix[a] 9 3 2 4 13 15 −2 11
9 Melbourne Victory 9 3 2 4 7 12 −5 11 Qualification for 2026 Australia Cup play-offs[d]
10 Perth Glory 9 3 1 5 7 12 −5 10
11 Western Sydney Wanderers 9 2 3 4 6 10 −4 9
12 Central Coast Mariners 9 2 2 5 10 15 −5 8
Updated to match(es) played on 23 December 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.
(X) Assured of qualification for AFC Champions League Two but may still qualify for other competitions.
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. ^ a b c 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. ^ Qualified for 2026–27 AFC Champions League Two as the 2025 Australia Cup winners.
  4. ^ The top eight clubs qualify directly to the 2026 Australia Cup.

Fixtures and results

Home \ Away ADL AKL BRI CCM MAC MCY MVC NEW PER SYD WEL WSW ADL AKL BRI CCM MAC MCY MVC NEW PER SYD WEL WSW
Adelaide United 0–1 4–1 a 2–1 2–0
Auckland FC 2–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–0
Brisbane Roar 1–0 0–0 1–0 3–0
Central Coast Mariners 1–2 0–0 3–2 1–2 1–1 a a
Macarthur FC 2–1 2–1 0–0 0–2 1–1
Melbourne City 1–1 0–1 4–0 a
Melbourne Victory 2–1 0–0 0–2 a a
Newcastle Jets a 0–1 5–2 1–2 1–4 2–0
Perth Glory 0–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–2 1–0
Sydney FC 2–0 2–0 3–0 a a
Wellington Phoenix 2–1 1–2 2–1 3–1 0–1 1–3 a
Western Sydney Wanderers 0–2 0–0 3–2 1–1 1–0 a
Updated to match(es) played on 23 December 2025. Source: Aleagues.com.au
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Top scorers

As of 23 December 2025[57]
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Alexander Badolato Newcastle Jets 4
Max Caputo Melbourne City
Sam Cosgrove Auckland FC
Ifeanyi Eze Wellington Phoenix
Joe Lolley Sydney FC
Harry Sawyer Macarthur FC
Al Hassan Toure Sydney FC
8 Carlo Armiento Wellington Phoenix 3
Kosta Barbarouses Western Sydney Wanderers
Lachlan Brook Auckland FC
Luka Jovanovic Adelaide United
Jesse Randall Auckland FC
Lachlan Rose Newcastle Jets

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of A-League Men hat-tricks
Player For Against Result Date Ref.
Alexander Badolato Newcastle Jets Melbourne Victory 5–2 (H) 24 October 2025 [58]
Al Hassan Toure Sydney FC Newcastle Jets 1–4 (A) 1 November 2025 [59]
Key
(H) Home team
(A) Away team

Clean sheets

As of 23 December 2025[60]
Rank Goalkeeper Club Clean sheets
1 Dean Bouzanis Brisbane Roar 6
2 Patrick Beach Melbourne City 5
3 Harrison Devenish-Meares Sydney FC 4
Jack Duncan Melbourne Victory
5 Michael Woud Auckland FC 3
6 Filip Kurto Macarthur FC 2
Andrew Redmayne Central Coast Mariners
Joshua Smits Adelaide United
Matt Sutton Perth Glory
Lawrence Thomas Western Sydney Wanderers

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Away kit

References

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  2. ^ "Campbelltown Stadium". austadiums.com. Austadiums. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Allianz Stadium". Austadiums. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Craig Goodwin Returns as Captain as Young South Australians Step Up into Leadership Group". Adelaide United. 5 August 2025.
  5. ^ "Reds unveil majestic home kit for 2022/23". Adelaide United. 26 August 2022.
  6. ^ Routley, Hayley (2 October 2025). "Adelaide United Unveils Mega Rewards as A-League Men's Home Front of Shirt Sponsor for 2025/26 Season". Adelaide United.
  7. ^ "1KOMMA5° Powers Adelaide United's A-League Men's Away Front of Shirt Partnership". Adelaide United. 20 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Sakai Appointed New Auckland FC Captain; Two Vice Captains Named". Auckland FC. 15 October 2024.
  9. ^ Sacha Pisani (14 March 2024). "Historic day for A-Leagues as new Auckland team reveals name, logo and inaugural jersey". A-Leagues.
  10. ^ "All in for Auckland: Auckland FC Launches 25/26 Season Home & Away Jersey". Auckland FC. 28 August 2025.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Brisbane Roar Announces Apparel Partnership with Cikers Australia". Brisbane Roar. 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ "Value Dental Centres elevate commitment to Brisbane Roar as new Major Partner". Brisbane Roar. 6 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Trent Sainsbury named Central Coast Mariners Isuzu UTE A-League captain". Central Coast Mariners. 14 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Mariners reveal O'Neills as Official Merchandise and Kit Supplier". Central Coast Mariners. 9 July 2025.
  16. ^ "polytec to Feature as Front of Shirt Sponsor for A-League Men's Team for Next Five Years". Central Coast Mariners. 23 August 2023.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ "Macarthur FC continue their Apparel Partnership for the Next Three Years". Macarthur FC. 12 September 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Bring On the Black and White Era". Macarthur FC. 25 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Macarthur FC Announces SipEnergy as Major Partner". Macarthur FC. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2024.
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  28. ^ "Newcastle Jets Announce New Balance as Official Apparel Partner". Newcastle Jets. 25 June 2025.
  29. ^ Wood, Reagan (30 September 2025). "2025/2026 Kits Revealed!". Newcastle Jets.
  30. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 October 2025). "Glory skippers named for 2025/26 A-Leagues Season". Perth Glory.
  31. ^ Morgan, Gareth (1 October 2025). "Glory extends long-term apparel partnership with Macron". Perth Glory.
  32. ^ Morgan, Gareth (15 March 2024). "La Vida Homes confirmed as Glory's new Principal Partner". Perth Glory.
  33. ^ "Rhyan Grant named Sydney FC's 2024/25 Isuzu UTE A-League Men's Captain". Sydney FC. 29 July 2024.
  34. ^ "Sydney FC 2025/26 Season Kits by Under Armour". Sydney FC. 23 September 2025.
  35. ^ "Sydney FC announce five year principal partnership with Macquarie University". Sydney FC. 6 October 2023.
  36. ^ Rollo, Phillip (9 October 2022). "Wellington Phoenix captain's injury 'every footballer's worst nightmare'". Stuff.
  37. ^ "Dynasty Sport to kit the Nix". Wellington Phoenix. 3 July 2025.
  38. ^ "Entelar Group front-of-shirt for men's new home kit". Wellington Phoenix. 10 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Nix release stunning new away kit". Wellington Phoenix. 16 October 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. ^ Csaszar, Jess (14 October 2025). "WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS AND ADIDAS UNVEIL 2025/26 HOME JERSEY WITH NEW CO-MAJOR PARTNER BATHLA". Western Sydney Wanderers.
  43. ^ "Turner Freeman Lawyers Extend Co-Major Partnership with Wanderers". Western Sydney Wanderers. 2 October 2025.
  44. ^ "Newcastle Jets Statement". Newcastle Jets. 3 April 2025.
  45. ^ Gardiner, James (6 May 2025). "'There is a great core of players here': New coach unveils plans for Newcastle Jets". The Canberra Times.
  46. ^ Monteverde, Marco (6 May 2025). "Michael Valkanis to take over as Brisbane Roar coach following Ruben Zadkovich's axing". The Advertiser.
  47. ^ Monteverde, Marco (7 May 2025). "New Brisbane coach Michael Valkanis keen to return Roar to A-League summit". news.com.au.
  48. ^ Monteverde, Marco (10 April 2025). "Adelaide United to part ways with coach Carl Veart at end of season". news.com.au.
  49. ^ "Airton Andrioli Appointed as Adelaide United's New Men's Head Coach". Adelaide United. 26 May 2025.
  50. ^ Monteverde, Marco (10 October 2025). "Treble-winning coach Mark Jackson parts ways with embattled Central Coast Mariners". news.com.au.
  51. ^ "OFFICIAL!!! บุรีรัมย์ ยูไนเต็ด ประกาศแต่งตั้ง "มาร์ค แจ็คสัน" เป็นหัวหน้าผู้ฝึกสอน คนใหม่" [OFFICIAL!!! Buriram United announces the appointment of "Mark Jackson" as the new head coach.] (in Thai). Buriram United. 15 October 2025 – via Instagram.
  52. ^ Monteverde, Marco (15 October 2025). "Ex-Brisbane Roar boss Warren Moon appointed interim coach of Central Coast Mariners". news.com.au.
  53. ^ Morgan, Gareth (28 October 2025). "ALM Head Coach David Zdrilic departs club". Perth Glory.
  54. ^ Morgan, Gareth (31 October 2025). "ALM Match Wrap: Clinical Victory claim the win at HBF Park". Perth Glory. Retrieved 8 November 2025. With Adam Griffiths in interim charge following the departure of Head Coach David Zdrilic earlier in the week
  55. ^ Morgan, Gareth (16 December 2025). "Griffiths becomes Glory's permanent ALM Head Coach". Perth Glory. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  56. ^ "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.
  57. ^ "Player Statistics (Goals)". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 27 October 2025.
  58. ^ Comito, Matt (24 October 2025). "Australian football world reacts to 'freak' 20yo's unbelievable night: 'He's all class'". A-Leagues. Retrieved 24 October 2025.
  59. ^ Russo, Steve (1 November 2025). "A-League men's round 3: Toure bags hat trick as Sydney FC best the Jets". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
  60. ^ "Player Statistics (Clean sheets)". Ultimate A-League. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
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