Australian Championship 2026 to feature historic NSL rivalries

The second season of the Australian Championship is scheduled to begin on October 15, 2026. The competition will feature 16 teams, including eight Foundation Clubs and eight Qualifying Clubs from the National Premier Leagues. Nine former National Soccer League (NSL) clubs are participating, such as South Melbourne, Sydney Olympic, Marconi Stallions, and Adelaide City.

The season opens with a match between Preston Lions and Wollongong Wolves. Other notable fixtures include a rematch of the 1999 NSL Grand Final between South Melbourne and Sydney United 58, as well as a revival of the rivalry between Sydney Olympic and Marconi.

Broadcasting for the tournament has been expanded through a deal with SBS. The network will provide two live free-to-air broadcasts per round, featuring Thursday night matches on SBS VICELAND/SBS2 and Saturday matches on SBS. All other matches will be available via SBS On Demand and Football Australia’s YouTube channel. The Finals Series is set to start on November 26, with the Grand Final occurring between December 10 and 12.