2026 New Zealand National League
Football championship
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2026 New Zealand Men's National League (known as the Dettol Men's National League for sponsorship reasons) is the sixth scheduled season of the National League since its restructuring in 2021; the 2021 National League was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in northern regions.[1] 32 clubs compete in the competition, with four qualifying from the Northern League, three qualifying from the Central League and two qualifying from the Southern League for the National Championship phase.[2][3] Auckland FC Reserves and Wellington Phoenix Reserves qualify automatically for the championship phase. Each team can field a maximum of four foreign players as well as one additional foreign player who has Oceania Football Confederation nationality.[4]
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 March – 13 December |
| Matches | 10 |
| Goals | 42 (4.2 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Garbhan Coughlan (6 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Cashmere Technical 10–0 Wellington Phoenix Reserves (4 Oct) |
| Biggest away win | Birkenhead United 0–4 Cashmere Technical (27 Sept) |
| Highest scoring | Cashmere Technical 10–0 Wellington Phoenix Reserves (4 Oct) |
| Longest winning run | 2 matches Cashmere Technical |
| Longest unbeaten run | 2 matches Auckland United Cashmere Technical Ferrymead Bays Miramar Rangers |
| Longest winless run | 2 matches Auckland FC Reserves |
| Longest losing run | 2 matches Auckland FC Reserves |
← 2025 2027 →
All statistics correct as of 4 October. | |
The qualifying league fixtures were announced on 24 February 2026. The Northern League and Southern League started on 21 March 2026 and the Central League started on 28 March. The Northern and Central leagues will conclude on 29 August 2026 with the Southern League concluding on 30 August 2026.[5][6] The fixtures for the championship phase were announced on 9 September 2026.[7]
Qualifying leagues
2026 Northern League
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 March – 29 August |
| Champions | Birkenhead United |
| Promoted | Auckland City Auckland FC Reserves Auckland United Birkenhead United Eastern Suburbs Western Springs |
| Matches | 132 |
| Goals | 448 (3.39 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Monty Patterson (12 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Eastern Suburbs 7–0 Manukau United (18 July) |
| Biggest away win | Western Springs 0–6 Fencibles United (23 May) Manukau United 0–6 Auckland United (1 August) |
| Highest scoring | Fencibles United 7–1 Melville United (3 April) Tauranga City 7–1 Manukau United 29 August) |
← 2025 2027 → | |
Northern League teams
Twelve teams are competing in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the NRFL Championship. The promoted teams are Manukau United and Melville United.[8] Manukau United return after a two-year absence, while Melville United return after one. They replaced Manurewa and West Coast Rangers (both relegated after a three-year Northern League spell).[9]
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2025 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland City | Kiwitea Street | Sandringham, Auckland | 4th |
| Auckland FC Reserves | Fred Taylor Park | Whenuapai, Auckland | 9th |
| Auckland United | Keith Hay Park | Mount Roskill, Auckland | 3rd |
| Bay Olympic | Olympic Park | New Lynn, Auckland | 8th |
| Birkenhead United | Shepherds Park | Beach Haven, Auckland | 2nd |
| East Coast Bays | Bay City Park | Northcross, Auckland | 6th |
| Eastern Suburbs | Madills Farm | Kohimarama, Auckland | 5th |
| Fencibles United | Riverhills Domain | Pakuranga, Auckland | 10th |
| Manukau United | Centre Park | Māngere East, Auckland | 1st in Championship (promoted) |
| Melville United | Gower Park | Melville, Hamilton | 2nd in Championship (promoted) |
| Tauranga City | Links Avenue Reserve | Mount Maunganui | 7th |
| Western Springs | Seddon Fields | Westmere, Auckland | 1st |
Northern League personnel
| Team | Manager | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland City |  Rudy Mozr[10] |
 Mario Ilich |
| Auckland FC Reserves | Rory Fallon[11] |
James Mitchell |
| Auckland United |  Ben Sippola[12] |
Ross Haviland[13] |
| Bay Olympic | Chris Milicich[14] (interim) |
Callum McNeill[15] |
| Birkenhead United |  Paul Hobson[16] |
Dino Botica[17] |
| East Coast Bays | Joe Hall[18] |
Louie Caunter[19] |
| Eastern Suburbs | Michael Built[20] |
Jake Mechell |
| Fencibles United | Rhys Ruka[21] |
Jake Moosbally[22] |
| Manukau United |  Mohammed Asif Khan[23] |
|
| Melville United | Aaron Scott Harry Trethowan[24] |
|
| Tauranga City |  Barry Gardiner[25] |
Campbell Higgins[26] |
| Western Springs | Scott Hales[27] |
 Niko Steinmetz |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melville United | Jarrod Young[28] |
Stepped down | 30 August 2025 | Preseason | Aaron Scott Harry Trethowan[24] |
24 November 2025 |
| Auckland FC Reserves |  Luke Casserly[29] |
Promoted to OFC Pro League team | 1 December 2025 | Rory Fallon[11] |
29 January 2026 | |
| Auckland United | José Figueira[30] |
Stepped down | 12 December 2025 | Ben Sippola[12] |
21 December 2025 | |
| Auckland City | Paul Posa[31] |
Stepped down | 15 December 2025 | Rudy Mozr[10] |
16 December 2025 | |
| Bay Olympic | Peter Smith[14] |
Stepped down | 21 June 2026 | 11th | Chris Milicich[14] (interim) |
21 June 2026 |
Northern League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birkenhead United (C, P) | 22 | 18 | 4 | 0 | 58 | 13 | +45 | 58 | Winner of Northern League, qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 2 | Eastern Suburbs (P) | 22 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 9 | +32 | 47 | Qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 3 | Auckland City (P) | 22 | 14 | 3 | 5 | 51 | 19 | +32 | 45 | |
| 4 | Auckland United (P) | 22 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 21 | +26 | 41 | |
| 5 | Fencibles United | 22 | 13 | 2 | 7 | 55 | 36 | +19 | 41 | |
| 6 | East Coast Bays | 22 | 10 | 5 | 7 | 34 | 35 | −1 | 35 | |
| 7 | Auckland FC Reserves[a] (P) | 22 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 38 | 40 | −2 | 27 | Qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 8 | Western Springs (O, P) | 22 | 7 | 3 | 12 | 33 | 40 | −7 | 24 | Qualification to 2027 National League play-offs via ranking |
| 9 | Melville United | 22 | 6 | 2 | 14 | 24 | 48 | −24 | 20 | |
| 10 | Bay Olympic | 22 | 4 | 4 | 14 | 23 | 56 | −33 | 16 | |
| 11 | Tauranga City | 22 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 29 | 52 | −23 | 15 | |
| 12 | Manukau United | 22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 78 | −64 | 7 |
Source: NRF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- Auckland FC Reserves gain automatic entry into the National League Championship phase and cannot be relegated due to the A-League Men requirements.[32]
Northern League results table
Northern League scoring
Northern League top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[34] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Monty Patterson |
Birkenhead United | 12 |
| 2 |  Héctor Echagüe |
Eastern Suburbs | 11 |
| Ben Wallace |
Western Springs / Auckland United | ||
 Marius Zabarauskas |
East Coast Bays | ||
| 5 | Luke Flowerdew |
Auckland United / East Coast Bays | 10 |
| Harley Hill |
Auckland FC Reserves | ||
| Angus Kilkolly |
Auckland City | ||
| Josh Redfearn |
Birkenhead United | ||
| 9 | Charlie Hale |
Auckland FC Reserves | 9 |
 Ronaldo Muñoz |
Fencibles United | ||
Northern League hat-tricks
| Round | Player | For | Against | Home/Away | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3[35] |  Ryan Clarke | Fencibles United | Melville United | Home | 7–1 | 3 April 2026 |
| 7[36] | Dylan Manickum | Auckland City | Fencibles United | Home | 4–1 | 25 April 2026 |
| 7[37][b] | Harley Hill | Auckland FC Reserves | Bay Olympic | Home | 4–1 | 4 July 2026 |
| 16[38] | Pavel Osmančík | Auckland City | Manukau United | Away | 0–5 | 11 July 2026 |
| 19[39][c] | Ryan de Vries[d] | Auckland City | Bay Olympic | Home | 5–1 | 29 July 2026 |
| 20[40] | Charlie Hale | Auckland FC Reserves | Melville United | Away | 1–5 | 15 August 2026 |
- Match was played at Birkenhead United's home ground of Shepherds Park on 6 June 2026.
- Match was postponed and played between rounds 15 and 16.
- Match was brough forward and played between rounds 17 and 18.
- Player scored 4 goals
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ngereine Maro |
Auckland United | 12 |
| 2 | Jack de Groot |
Eastern Suburbs | 11 |
| 3 | Oli Pocock |
Eastern Suburbs / Birkenhead United | 7 |
| 4 | Louie Caunter |
East Coast Bays | 6 |
| 5 | Nathan Garrow |
Auckland City | 5 |
| Keegan Smith |
Birkenhead United | ||
| Max Tommy |
Melville United | ||
| 8 |  Sota Yuasa |
Fencibles United | 4 |
| 9 | Emmett Connolly |
Western Springs | 3 |
| Matthew Foord |
Auckland City | ||
2026 Central League
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 28 March – 29 August |
| Champions | Napier City Rovers |
| Promoted | Miramar Rangers Napier City Rovers Wellington Olympic Wellington Phoenix Reserves |
| Matches | 90 |
| Goals | 304 (3.38 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Martín Bueno and Kyle Carr (10 goals each) |
| Biggest home win | Miramar Rangers 12–0 FC Western (8 August) |
| Biggest away win | Island Bay United 0–6 Western Suburbs (18 April) Waterside Karori 0–6 Miramar Rangers (2 May) FC Western 0–6 Napier City Rovers (29 August) |
| Highest scoring | Miramar Rangers 12–0 FC Western (8 August) |
← 2025 2027 → | |
Central League teams
Ten teams are competing in the league – the top nine teams from the previous season and the one team promoted from the 2025 Central League 2. The promoted team is FC Western.[41] This is their first season in the Central League, since New Zealand football's restructuring in 2021. They replaced North Wellington (relegated after a five-year Central League spell).[42]
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2025 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| FC Western | Lynmouth Park | Lynmouth, New Plymouth | 1st in Central League 2 (promoted) |
| Island Bay United | Wakefield Park | Island Bay, Wellington | 6th |
| Miramar Rangers | David Farrington Park | Miramar, Wellington | 2nd |
| Napier City Rovers | Bluewater Stadium | Napier | 5th |
| Petone | Memorial Park | Petone, Lower Hutt | 9th |
| Upper Hutt City | Maidstone Park | Maidstone, Upper Hutt | 8th |
| Waterside Karori | Karori Park | Karori, Wellington | 7th |
| Wellington Olympic | Wakefield Park | Island Bay, Wellington | 1st |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Fraser Park | Taitā, Lower Hutt | 4th |
| Western Suburbs | Endeavour Park | Porirua | 3rd |
Central League personnel
| Team | Manager[43] | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| FC Western | Josh Dobson |
Benjamin Furze |
| Island Bay United | Callum Holmes[44] |
Leonardo Villa |
| Miramar Rangers | Jamie O’Connor[45] |
Andy Bevin |
| Napier City Rovers | Bill Robertson |
Jim Hoyle[46] |
| Petone | Sam Pickering[47][48] |
Oliver Pickering |
| Upper Hutt City | Toby Wilton[49] |
Donal Gahan |
| Waterside Karori | Tomás Godoy Fouquet[50][51] |
Tomás Alvarado |
| Wellington Olympic | Ekow Quainoo[52] |
Ben Mata[53] |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Joshua Neff |
Dylan Gardiner |
| Western Suburbs | Matthew Calvert |
 Alifeleti Peini |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Island Bay United | Martín Pereyra-García |
End of contract | 30 August 2025 | Pre-season | Callum Holmes[44] |
21 October 2025 |
| Petone | Jamie O’Connor[54] |
Stepped down | 21 October 2025 | Sam Pickering[47][48] |
28 October 2025 | |
| Miramar Rangers | Kale Herbert[55] |
Stepped down | 6 December 2025 | Jamie O’Connor[45] |
14 December 2025 | |
| Wellington Olympic |  Paul Ifill[56] |
Stepped down | 13 December 2025 | Ekow Quainoo[52] |
24 December 2025 | |
| Upper Hutt City | Rory Fallon[57] |
Stepped down | 19 December 2025 | Toby Wilton[49] |
6 February 2026 | |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Chris Greenacre[58] |
Promoted to senior Wellington Phoenix team | 22 February 2026 | Joshua Neff[59] |
February 2026 (interim) 2 June 2026 (fulltime) |
Central League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Napier City Rovers (C, P) | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 52 | 15 | +37 | 44 | Winner of Central League, qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 2 | Wellington Olympic (P) | 18 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 53 | 17 | +36 | 42 | Qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 3 | Miramar Rangers (P) | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 47 | 14 | +33 | 41 | |
| 4 | Western Suburbs | 18 | 10 | 6 | 2 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 36 | Qualification to 2027 National League play-offs via ranking |
| 5 | Upper Hutt City | 18 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 32 | 37 | −5 | 24 | |
| 6 | Island Bay United | 18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 28 | 37 | −9 | 22 | |
| 7 | Waterside Karori | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 43 | −27 | 15 | |
| 8 | Petone | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 32 | −16 | 13 | |
| 9 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves[a] (P) | 18 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 26 | −9 | 11 | Qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 10 | FC Western | 18 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 10 | 69 | −59 | 6 |
Source: Capital Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
- Wellington Phoenix Reserves gain automatic entry into the National League Championship phase and cannot be relegated due to the A-League Men requirements.[2]
Central League results table
Central League scoring
- As of 12 September 2026
Central League top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[60] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Martín Bueno |
Miramar Rangers | 11 |
| Kyle Carr |
Western Suburbs | ||
| 3 | Lucas Hansen |
Upper Hutt City | 10 |
| 4 | Benjamin Stanley |
Napier City Rovers | 9 |
| 5 | Connor Gaul |
Miramar Rangers | 8 |
| Rio Winkworth |
Upper Hutt City | ||
| 7 | Luke Stoupe |
Wellington Olympic | 7 |
| 8 | Timothy O'Farrell |
Island Bay United | 6 |
| Tsar Mitchener | |||
| Callum Cooke |
Napier City Rovers | ||
| Jacob Fenton | |||
| Donal Gahan |
Upper Hutt City | ||
| Sebastian Barton-Ginger |
Wellington Olympic | ||
| Gianni Bouzoukis | |||
2026 Southern League
| Season | 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 21 March – 12 September |
| Champions | Cashmere Technical |
| Promoted | Cashmere Technical Coastal Spirit |
| Matches | 90 |
| Goals | 355 (3.94 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Garbhan Coughlan (32 goals) |
| Biggest home win | Nelson Suburbs 11–0 Northern (12 July) Cashmere Technical 11–0 Wānaka (12 September) |
| Biggest away win | Wānaka 0–9 Cashmere Technical (11 April) |
| Highest scoring | Nelson Suburbs 11–0 Northern (12 July) Cashmere Technical 11–0 Wānaka (12 September) |
← 2025 2027 → | |
The 2026 Southern League is the 5th season of a full 10 team league, 6th season since the restructure of the leagues, of a South Island wide football league. The League starts in March and finishes in September, with the top two side qualifying for the National League Championship.
Southern League teams
Ten teams are competing in the league – the top nine teams from the previous season and the winner of the Southern League play-offs. The promoted team is Northern.[61] This is their first season in the Southern League. They replaced University of Canterbury (relegated after two seasons in the Southern League).[62]
On 12 February, Selwyn United announced that "we have been offered, and have accepted, a place in the Southern League for the upcoming season following a vacancy in the competition".[63] On 24 February 2026, this was confirmed as New Zealand Football released the fixtures.[5][6]
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2025 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cashmere Technical | Garrick Memorial Park | Woolston, Christchurch | 3rd |
| Christchurch United | United Sports Centre | Spreydon, Christchurch | 2nd |
| Coastal Spirit | Tāne Norton Park | Linwood, Christchurch | 1st |
| Dunedin City Royals | Tahuna Park | Tainui, Dunedin | 7th |
| Ferrymead Bays | Ferrymead Park | Ferrymead, Christchurch | 6th |
| Nelson Suburbs | Saxton Field | Stoke, Nelson | 4th |
| Nomads United | Tulett Park | Casebrook, Christchurch | 5th |
| Northern | Caledonian Ground | Dunedin North, Dunedin | 1st in Southern Premiership League (promoted via play-offs) |
| Selwyn United | Foster Park | Rolleston | 10th[a] |
| Wānaka | Wānaka Recreation Centre | Wānaka | 8th |
- Selwyn United were reprieved of relegation as University of Canterbury withdrew.
Southern League personnel
| Team | Manager | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| Cashmere Technical | Daniel Schwarz[64] |
Tom Schwarz[64] |
| Christchurch United | Daniel Godden |
Ben Stroud |
| Coastal Spirit | Robert Stanton[65][66] |
Weston Bell |
| Dunedin City Royals | Blair Scoullar[67] |
Max Davidson |
| Ferrymead Bays | Alan Walker[68] |
Luke Pritchard |
| Nelson Suburbs |  Ryan Stewart |
Lennon Whewell[69] |
| Nomads United | Matthew Jansen[70] |
Jacob Anderson |
| Northern | Arran Wilkinson |
Luka Mandich |
| Selwyn United | John Morgan (interim) |
Liam Coleman |
| Wānaka |  Max Uhr[71] |
Danny Heemskerk |
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christchurch United | Ryan Edwards[72] |
New job with South Island United | 29 November 2025 | Pre-season |  Albert Riera[73] |
13 November 2025 |
| Wānaka | Ben Sippola[12] |
Signed by Auckland United | 21 December 2025 |  Thomas van Hees[71] |
24 March 2026 | |
| Thomas van Hees[71] |
Stepped down | Unknown | Unknown | Max Uhr[71] |
Unknown | |
| Selwyn United | Christopher Brown[74][75] |
Signed by Wellington Phoenix | 18 July 2026 | 9th | John Morgan (interim) |
20 July 2026 |
| Christchurch United | Albert Riera[73] |
Resigned | 9 August 2026 | 7th | Daniel Godden[76] |
9 August 2026 |
Southern League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cashmere Technical (C, P) | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 91 | 7 | +84 | 52 | Winner of Southern League, qualification to National League Championship and promoted to National League via ranking |
| 2 | Ferrymead Bays | 18 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 39 | 19 | +20 | 38 | Qualification to National League Championship |
| 3 | Nomads United | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 42 | 24 | +18 | 36 | |
| 4 | Coastal Spirit (P) | 18 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 45 | 36 | +9 | 34 | Promoted to National League via ranking |
| 5 | Nelson Suburbs | 18 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 25 | |
| 6 | Northern | 18 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 22 | 38 | −16 | 23 | |
| 7 | Christchurch United | 18 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 26 | −2 | 20 | Qualification to 2027 National League play-offs via ranking |
| 8 | Dunedin City Royals | 18 | 5 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 41 | −26 | 16 | |
| 9 | Wānaka | 18 | 3 | 1 | 14 | 18 | 73 | −55 | 10 | |
| 10 | Selwyn United | 18 | 2 | 1 | 15 | 18 | 58 | −40 | 7 |
Source: Mainland Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Southern League results table
Southern League scoring
- As of 12 September 2026
Southern League top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[77] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Garbhan Coughlan |
Cashmere Technical | 32 |
| 2 | Rory Hibbert |
15 | |
| 3 | Omar Cameron |
Ferrymead Bays | 14 |
| 4 | Zander Edwards |
Cashmere Technical | 13 |
| 3 | John Reynolds |
Nelson Suburbs | 11 |
| Lennon Whewell | |||
| 7 | Ben Polak |
9 | |
| 8 | Flynn Holdem |
Nomads United | 8 |
| Max Chrétien |
Coastal Spirit | ||
| 10 | Lyle Matthysen |
Cashmere Technical | 7 |
2027 National League play-offs
The 2027 New Zealand National League play-offs will take place in September 2026.[78][79] The play-offs will confirm the final team to be promoted into the new look National League.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Springs (P) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | +2 | 4 | Promotion to 2027 New Zealand National League |
| 2 | Christchurch United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 3 | |
| 3 | Western Suburbs | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | −3 | 1 |
Source: New Zealand Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(P) Promoted
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record; 7) Coin toss[33]
(P) Promoted
Matches
| Western Suburbs | 1–1 | Western Springs |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
Alex Moore Park, Wellington
Referee: Ben O'Connell
| Western Springs | 2–0 | Christchurch United |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Referee: Cory Mills
Qualified clubs
There are 11 men's National League Championship qualifying spots (4 plus Auckland FC Reserves for the Northern League, 3 plus Wellington Phoenix Reserves for the Central League and 2 for the Southern League).[2]
.svg)
Auckland
Wellington
Christchurch
Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2026 National League season
Location of clubs in Auckland Region for the 2026 National League season
Location of clubs in Wellington Region for the 2026 National League season
Location of clubs in Christchurch district for the 2026 National League season
| Association | Team | Position in Regional League | App (last) | Previous best (last) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern League (4 berths) | Birkenhead United | 1st | 4th (2025) | 1st[A] (2024) |
| Eastern Suburbs | 2nd | 3rd (2024) | 4th (2023) | |
| Auckland City | 3rd | 5th (2025) | 2nd[B] (2025) | |
| Auckland United | 4th | 4th (2025) | 3rd (2022) | |
| Central League (3 berths) | Napier City Rovers | 1st | 4th (2024) | 4th (2024) |
| Wellington Olympic | 2nd | 5th (2025) | 1st[C] (2025) | |
| Miramar Rangers | 3rd | 3rd (2025) | 3rd (2025) | |
| Southern League (2 berths) | Cashmere Technical | 1st | 4th (2024) | 5th (2023) |
| Ferrymead Bays | 2nd | 1st | Debut | |
| Auckland FC (automatic berth) | Auckland FC Reserves | Automatic qualification | 2nd (2025) | 4th (2025) |
| Wellington Phoenix (automatic berth) | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Automatic qualification | 5th (2025) | 5th (2024) |
Location
| Team | Home ground | Location | 2025 season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland City | Kiwitea Street | Sandringham, Auckland | 1st[B] |
| Auckland FC Reserves | Fred Taylor Park | Whenuapai, Auckland | 4th |
| Auckland United | Keith Hay Park | Mount Roskill, Auckland | 10th |
| Birkenhead United | Shepherds Park | Beach Haven, Auckland | 6th |
| Cashmere Technical | Garrick Memorial Park | Woolston, Christchurch | N/a |
| Eastern Suburbs | Madills Farm | Kohimarama, Auckland | N/a |
| Ferrymead Bays | Ferrymead Park | Ferrymead,Christchurch | N/a |
| Miramar Rangers | David Farrington Park | Miramar, Wellington | 3rd |
| Napier City Rovers | Bluewater Stadium | Poraiti, Napier | N/a |
| Wellington Olympic | Wakefield Park | Island Bay, Wellington | 1st[C] |
| Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Fraser Park | Taitā, Lower Hutt | 9th |
Championship phase
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cashmere Technical | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | +14 | 6 | Qualification to Grand Final |
| 2 | Auckland United | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | +6 | 4 | |
| 3 | Miramar Rangers | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 4 | |
| 4 | Ferrymead Bays | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | +1 | 4 | |
| 5 | Auckland City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 3 | |
| 6 | Wellington Olympic | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 3 | |
| 7 | Eastern Suburbs | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | −2 | 1 | |
| 8 | Napier City Rovers | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | −6 | 1 | |
| 9 | Wellington Phoenix Reserves[a] | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | −10 | 1 | |
| 10 | Auckland FC Reserves[a] | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | −2 | 0 | |
| 11 | Birkenhead United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 0 |
Updated to match(es) played on 4 October 2026. Source: New Zealand Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record[33]
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals for; 4) Goals against; 5) Head to head; 6) Disciplinary record[33]
Notes:
- Auckland FC Reserves and Wellington Phoenix Reserves can not qualify for the Grand Final.[33]
Results table
Positions by round
The table lists the positions of teams after each week of matches. To preserve chronological evolvements, any postponed matches are not included in the round at which they were originally scheduled, but added to the full round they were played immediately afterwards. For example, if a match is scheduled for round 3, but then postponed and played between rounds 6 and 7, it is added to the standings for round 6.
| Leader and Grand Final | |
| Grand Final |
Updated to match(es) played on 4 October 2026. Source: New Zealand Football
Statistics
- As of 4 October 2026
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[80][81] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Garbhan Coughlan |
Cashmere Technical | 6 |
| 2 | Will Mendoza |
Auckland United | 5 |
| 3 | Jack Beer |
Auckland United | 2 |
| Finn Caughey |
Cashmere Technical | ||
| Harley Hill |
Auckland FC Reserves | ||
| Jacob Killick |
Ferrymead Bays | ||
| Sam Lack |
Napier City Rovers | ||
| Lyle Matthysen |
Cashmere Technical | ||
| Yuya Taguchi |
Cashmere Technical | ||
| 10 | 18 players | 1 | |
Hat-tricks
| Round | Player | For | Against | Home/Away | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2[82] | Will Mendoza[a] | Auckland United | Napier City Rovers | Home | 7–1 | 4 October 2026 |
| 2[83] | Garbhan Coughlan[a] | Cashmere Technical | Wellington Phoenix Reserves | Home | 10–0 | 4 October 2026 |
- Player scored 4 goals
Clean sheets
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets[84] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pieter-Taco Bierema |
Cashmere Technical | 2 |
| 2 | Jack de Groot |
Eastern Suburbs | 1 |
 Evan Ovendale |
Ferrymead Bays |
Awards
Annual awards
| League | MVP | Club | Top scorer | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern League | Dino Botica[85] |
Birkenhead United | Monty Patterson[86] |
Birkenhead United |
| Central League | Callum Cooke[87] |
Napier City Rovers | Martín Bueno Kyle Carr[88] |
Miramar Rangers Western Suburbs |
| Southern League | Garbhan Coughlan[89] |
Cashmere Technical | Garbhan Coughlan[90] |
Cashmere Technical |
| National League |