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2025–26 Auckland FC season

Auckland FC 2025–26 football season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2025–26 Auckland Football Club season was the club's second season in the A-League Men, the top flight of Australian soccer. The club also competed in the Australia Cup for the first time. The season covered the period from 1 July 2025 until 30 June 2026.

Auckland FC at half-time during their first home match of the 2025–26 season against Western Sydney Wanderers at Go Media Stadium

OwnerBlack Knight Football and Entertainment
ChairmanBill Foley
Head CoachSteve Corica
Quick facts season, Owner ...
Auckland FC
2025–26 season
OwnerBlack Knight Football and Entertainment
ChairmanBill Foley
Head CoachSteve Corica
StadiumMount Smart Stadium
A-League Men3rd
A-League Men FinalsChampions
Australia CupSemi-final
Top goalscorerLeague: Sam Cosgrove (11)
All: Sam Cosgrove
Jesse Randall (12)
Highest home attendance28,374
vs. Sydney FC
(23 May 2026)
A-League Men finals
Lowest home attendance10,077
vs. Melbourne Victory
(11 April 2026)
A-League Men
Average home league attendance13,221
Biggest win5–0
vs. Wellington Phoenix (A)
(21 February 2026)
A-League Men
Biggest defeat0–2
vs. Heidelberg United (A)
(30 August 2025)
Australia Cup
1–3
vs. Newcastle Jets (H)
(1 January 2026)
A-League Men
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Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Other players with first-team appearances

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...
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Transfers

Note: Transfers' in/out date may refer to the date of announcement and not the date of signing from the mentioned players.

Transfers in

More information No., Position ...
No. Position Name From Type/fee Contract length Date Ref.
12 GK Scott Morris England Stoke City Free transfer 1 year 7 July 2025 [1]
77 FW Australia Lachlan Brook United States Real Salt Lake Free transfer 3 years 7 August 2025 [2][3]
20 GK Oliver Sail Perth Glory Free transfer 1 year 18 August 2025 [4]
9 FW England Sam Cosgrove Unattached Free transfer 2 years 19 August 2025 [5]
3 DF Australia Jake Girdwood-Reich United States St. Louis City Loan 1 year 12 September 2025 [6][7]
12 GK Australia James Hilton Australia Marconi Stallions Free transfer 5 months 6 February 2026 [8]
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From youth squad

More information N, Pos. ...
N
Pos.
Nat.
Name
Age
Notes
52 DF New Zealand Luka Vicelich17 2.5-year scholarship contract[9][10]
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Transfers out

More information No., Position ...
No. Position Player Transferred to Type/fee Date Ref.
25 FW Colombia Neyder Moreno Unattached End of contract 30 June 2025 [11]
9 FW Max Mata England Shrewsbury Town End of loan 30 June 2025 [12]
12 GK Alex Paulsen England Bournemouth End of loan 30 June 2025 [13]
8 MF Luis Toomey Unattached End of contract 30 June 2025 [14]
5 DF Tommy Smith England Braintree Town Mutual contract termination 17 July 2025 [15][16]
3 DF Australia Scott Galloway Unattached Mutual contract termination 21 July 2025 [17]
12 GK Scott Morris Retired 2 September 2025 [18]
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Contract extensions

More information No., Position ...
No. Position Player Duration Date Notes Ref
27 Forward Logan Rogerson 2 years 6 July 2025 [19]
15 Defender Francis de Vries 3 years 15 January 2026 Contract extended from end of 2025–26 to end of 2028–29 [20]
2 Right-back Japan Hiroki Sakai 1 year 16 April 2026 Contract extended from end of 2025–26 to end of 2026–27 [21]
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Pre-season and friendlies

22 July 2025 West Coast Rangers New Zealand 0–5 New Zealand Auckland FC Auckland, New Zealand
19:00 NZST Report (NZF)
Report
Stadium: Fred Taylor Park
Referee: Luke Gardner
3 August 2025 Brisbane Roar Australia 2–2 New Zealand Auckland FC Brisbane, Australia
12:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: Imperial Corp Stadium
27 August 2025 Western Sydney Wanderers Australia Cancelled New Zealand Auckland FC Sydney, Australia
Report Stadium: Wanderers Football Park
20 September 2025 Auckland FC New Zealand 2–0 New Zealand Birkenhead United Auckland, New Zealand
15:00 NZST Report (NZF) Stadium: Fred Taylor Park
Referee: Ashley Wilson
27 September 2025 Central Coast Mariners Australia 0–2 New Zealand Auckland FC Australia
Report
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
10 October 2025 Melbourne City Australia 0–0 New Zealand Auckland FC Melbourne, Australia
Report Stadium: Casey Fields
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)

Competitions

Overall record

More information Competition, First match ...
Competition First match Last match Starting round Final position Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
A-League Men 18 October 2025 26 April 2026 Matchday 1 3rd 26 11 9 6 42 29 +13 042.31
A-League Men finals series 2 May 2026 23 May 2026 Elimination-final Winners 4 2 2 0 6 2 +4 050.00
Australia Cup 29 July 2025 30 August 2025 Round of 32 Semi-final 4 2 1 1 8 3 +5 050.00
Total 34 15 12 7 56 34 +22 044.12
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Source: Competitions

A-League Men

League table

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Newcastle Jets 26 15 3 8 55 39 +16 48 Qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite league stage and the finals series[a]
2 Adelaide United 26 12 7 7 46 36 +10 43 Qualification for the AFC Champions League Elite preliminary stage and the finals series
3 Auckland FC[b] (C) 26 11 9 6 42 29 +13 42 Qualification for the finals series[a]
4 Melbourne Victory 26 11 7 8 44 33 +11 40 Qualification for the AFC Champions League Two group stage and the finals series[c]
5 Sydney FC 26 11 6 9 33 25 +8 39 Qualification for the finals series[a]
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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.
(C) Champions
Notes:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Since the 2025 Australia Cup winners, Newcastle Jets, occupy an AFC Champions League Elite position, the AFC Champions League Two spot goes to the next eligible team. The AFC ruled that the Australia Cup runner-up Heidelberg United was ineligible to compete.[22]

Results summary

More information Overall, Home ...
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
26 11 9 6 42 29  +13 42 5 4 4 20 17  +3 6 5 2 22 12  +10
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Last updated: 26 April 2026.
Source: Ultimate A-League

Results by round

More information Round, Ground ...
Round1234567891117121314151610181920212223242526
GroundAHHAHHHAAHAAAHAHAAHHAHAHHA
ResultDWWWDLWWWLDWLDLWDWWDWLDDLD
Position93112332111111322222222223
Points1471011111417202021242425252829323536393940414142
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Updated to match(es) played on 26 April 2026. Source: Ultimate A-League
A = Away; H = Home; N = Neutral; B = Bye; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; X = Bye

Matches

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures   Postponed

18 October 2025 1 Melbourne Victory 0–0 Auckland FC Melbourne
19:35 AEDT Report Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 11,558
Referee: Daniel Elder
25 October 2025 2 Auckland FC 1–0 Western Sydney Wanderers Auckland
17:00 NZDT
Report Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 14,767
Referee: Tim Danaskos
1 November 2025 3 Auckland FC 2–1 Adelaide United Auckland
17:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 11,240
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
8 November 2025 4 Wellington Phoenix 1–2 Auckland FC Wellington
19:00 NZDT
Report
Stadium: Sky Stadium
Attendance: 12,091
Referee: Ben Abraham
23 November 2025 5 Auckland FC 1–1 Brisbane Roar Auckland
15:00 NZDT
Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 12,379
Referee: Ben Abraham
30 November 2025 6 Auckland FC 1–2 Newcastle Jets Auckland
15:00 NZDT Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 10,387
Referee: Alireza Faghani
6 December 2025 7 Auckland FC 3–1 Wellington Phoenix Auckland
17:00 NZDT
Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 21,997
Referee: Adam Kersey
12 December 2025 8 Central Coast Mariners 1–2 Auckland FC Gosford
19:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Polytec Stadium
Attendance: 1,942
Referee: Jack Morgan
19 December 2025 9 Western Sydney Wanderers 0–2 Auckland FC Sydney
20:00 AEDT Report
Stadium: CommBank Stadium
Attendance: 5,029
Referee: Alex King
Note: The match was originally scheduled for 19:35, but was delayed to 20:00 due to adverse weather conditions.
1 January 2026 11 Auckland FC 1–3 Newcastle Jets Auckland
17:00 NZDT
Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 16,156
Referee: Daniel Elder
5 January 2026 17 Macarthur FC 1–1 Auckland FC Sydney
16:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium
Attendance: 3,543
Referee: Adam Kersey
9 January 2026 12 Brisbane Roar 0–2 Auckland FC Brisbane
18:35 AEST Report
Stadium: Suncorp Stadium
Attendance: 9,363
Referee: Alireza Faghani
16 January 2026 13 Melbourne City 2–1 Auckland FC Melbourne
19:35 AEDT
Report
Stadium: AAMI Park
Attendance: 5,578
Referee: Shane Skinner
24 January 2026 14 Auckland FC 2–2 Central Coast Mariners Auckland
17:00 NZDT
Report
  • Lavale 44', 89'
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 10,225
Referee: Adam Kersey
31 January 2026 15 Perth Glory 2–1 Auckland FC Perth
18:45 AWST
Report
Stadium: HBF Park
Attendance: 7,528
Referee: Shaun Evans
7 February 2026 16 Auckland FC 1–0 Sydney FC Auckland
17:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 13,050
Referee: Alex King
17 February 2026 10 Sydney FC 1–1 Auckland FC Sydney
19:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: Leichhardt Oval
Attendance: 6,471
Referee: Daniel Elder
Note: The game was postponed from 27 December 2025, due to the Leichhardt Oval pitch not being ready to accommodate games.[23]
21 February 2026 18 Wellington Phoenix 0–5 Auckland FC Wellington
17:00 NZDT Report
Stadium: Sky Stadium
Attendance: 10,040
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
28 February 2026 19 Auckland FC 3–0 Melbourne City Auckland
17:00 NZDT
Report Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 13,112
Referee: Ben Abraham
8 March 2026 20 Auckland FC 2–2 Perth Glory Auckland
15:00 NZDT Report Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 12,777
Referee: Declan Woods
14 March 2026 21 Newcastle Jets 1–2 Auckland FC Newcastle
17:00 AEDT
Report
Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium
Attendance: 12,014
Referee: Alex King
21 March 2026 22 Auckland FC 1–2 Macarthur FC Auckland
15:00 NZDT Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 11,689
Referee: Daniel Elder
3 April 2026 23 Adelaide United 1–1 Auckland FC Adelaide
19:05 ACDT
Report Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 13,725
Referee: Alex King
11 April 2026 24 Auckland FC 2–2 Melbourne Victory Auckland
17:00 NZST
Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 10,077
Referee: Lachlan Keevers
19 April 2026 25 Auckland FC 0–1 Central Coast Mariners Auckland
15:00 NZST Report
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 14,019
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro
26 April 2026 26 Sydney FC 2–2 Auckland FC Sydney
15:00 AEST
Report
Stadium: Allianz Stadium
Attendance: 16,661
Referee: Ben Abraham


Finals series

9 May 2025 Semi Final 1st Leg Auckland FC 1–1 Adelaide United Auckland
18:00 NZST
Report
  • Crawford 63'
Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 16,903
Referee: Ben Abraham
15 May 2025 Semi Final 2nd Leg Adelaide United 0–3
(1–4 agg.)
Auckland FC Adelaide
19:35 ACST Report Stadium: Coopers Stadium
Attendance: 14,716
Referee: Daniel Elder
23 May 2026 Grand Final Auckland FC 1–0 Sydney FC Auckland
20:10 NZDT Howieson 60' Report Stadium: Go Media Stadium
Attendance: 28,374
Referee: Alex King

Australia Cup

This was the only time Auckland participated in the Australia Cup, as New Zealand-based teams were omitted from the 2026 edition onwards.[24]

  Win   Draw   Loss

29 July 2025 Round of 32 Gold Coast Knights 0–4 Auckland FC Gold Coast
19:30 AEST Report
Stadium: Croatian Sports Centre
Attendance: 1,517
Referee: Lara Lee
13 August 2025 Round of 16 South Melbourne 0–3 Auckland FC Melbourne
19:30 AEST Report
Stadium: Lakeside Stadium
Attendance: 3,712
Referee: Declan Woods
23 August 2025 Quarter-final Sydney FC 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(1–3 p)
Auckland FC Sydney
19:30 AEST
Report
Stadium: Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Casey Reibelt
Penalties
30 August 2025 Semi-final Heidelberg United 2–0 Auckland FC Melbourne
19:30 AEST
Report Stadium: Olympic Park
Attendance: 3,034

Statistics

Appearances and goals

Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.[25]

As of 23 May 2026
More information No., Pos ...
No. Pos Nat Player TotalA-League MenA-League Men finals seriesAustralia Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1 GK New Zealand NZL Michael Woud 32023+104040
12 GK Australia AUS James Hilton 20200000
20 GK New Zealand NZL Oliver Sail 10100000
Defenders
2 DF Japan JPN Hiroki Sakai 26014+404040
4 DF New Zealand NZL Nando Pijnaker 1808+502+2010
15 DF New Zealand NZL Francis de Vries 2912210+3040
17 DF New Zealand NZL Callan Elliot 31016+70403+10
23 DF Fiji FIJ Dan Hall 3302504040
43 DF New Zealand NZL Ryan Mackay 100+100000
52 DF New Zealand NZL Luka Vicelich 701+200+200+20
Midfielders
3 MF Australia AUS Jake Girdwood-Reich 29221+414100
6 MF Belgium BEL Louis Verstraete 30221+32400+20
7 MF New Zealand NZL Cameron Howieson 2917+140413+10
8 MF Chile CHI Felipe Gallegos 28117+710040
18 MF New Zealand NZL Finn McKenlay 1000000+10
19 MF New Zealand NZL Oliver Middleton 300+10000+20
22 MF Malta MLT Jake Brimmer 2009+600+101+30
46 MF New Zealand NZL James Mitchell 200+200000
57 MF New Zealand NZL Van Fitzharris 300+200+1000
Forwards
9 FW England ENG Sam Cosgrove 311223+2113+110+20
10 FW Uruguay URU Guillermo May 30713+1152141
11 FW Australia AUS Marlee Francois 1714+900041
14 FW New Zealand NZL Liam Gillion 1210+500+400+31
21 FW New Zealand NZL Jesse Randall 34122694043
27 FW New Zealand NZL Logan Rogerson 32313+1111+3141
28 FW Australia AUS Bailey Ferguson 200+200000
35 FW New Zealand NZL Jonty Bidois 1000+1000000
77 FW Australia AUS Lachlan Brook 321020+58410+31
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Disciplinary record

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.[25]

As of 23 May 2026
More information Rank, No. ...
Rank No. Pos. Nat. Name A-League Men A-League Men finals series Australia Cup Total
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card
1 23 DF Fiji Dan Hall 201 200 000 301
2 27 FW New Zealand Logan Rogerson 101 000 000 101
3 9 FW England Sam Cosgrove 600 300 000 700
4 6 MF Belgium Louis Verstraete 600 200 000 600
77 FW Australia Lachlan Brook 500 000 100 600
6 2 DF Japan Hiroki Sakai 300 100 100 500
7 7 MF New Zealand Cameron Howieson 200 100 100 400
8 MF Chile Felipe Gallegos 300 000 100 400
10 FW Uruguay Guillermo May 400 000 000 400
10 3 DF Australia Jake Girdwood-Reich 300 000 000 300
11 FW Australia Marlee Francois 200 000 100 300
12 1 GK New Zealand Michael Woud 200 000 000 200
15 DF New Zealand Francis de Vries 200 000 000 200
21 FW New Zealand Jesse Randall 200 000 000 200
22 MF Malta Jake Brimmer 100 100 000 200
16 4 DF New Zealand Nando Pijnaker 000 200 100 100
17 DF New Zealand Callan Elliot 100 100 000 100
18 MF New Zealand Finn McKenlay 000 000 100 100
19 MF New Zealand Oliver Middleton 000 000 100 100
35 FW New Zealand Jonty Bidois 100 000 000 100
Total 4602 1200 800 6602
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Clean sheets

Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.

As of 23 May 2026
More information Rank, No. ...
Rank No. Nat. Goalkeeper A-League Men A-League Men finals series Australia Cup Total
1 1 New Zealand Michael Woud 7 2 2 11
Total71211
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Awards

Players

More information No., Pos. ...
No. Pos. Player Award Source
15DF New Zealand Francis de Vries A-League Men Player of the Month (December) [26]
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Managers

More information Manager, Award ...
Manager Award Source
Australia Steve Corica A-League Men Coach of the Month (December) [27]
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References

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