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The 2025-26 A-League Men finals series kicks off on Friday 1 May 2026 with the Elimination Finals, running through to the Grand Final on the weekend of 23–24 May. Top-of-the-ladder Newcastle Jets are chasing their first premiership-championship double, while second-year club Auckland FC have arguably been the story of the season with a second-placed finish in only their second A-League campaign.
Below is our full preview of the 2026 A-League finals — the four-week schedule, each of the top six teams’ form and chances, how the format works, and the futures markets worth watching through to the Grand Final. For our ongoing round-by-round tips, visit our A-League hub. For multi and SGM coverage across the finals, see our football multi tips page.
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🏆 CHAMPIONS — Auckland FC
The 2025-26 A-League Grand Final has been decided. Auckland FC beat Sydney FC 1-0 at Go Media Stadium on Sunday 24 May 2026, courtesy of Cam Howieson’s 59th-minute strike. Read the full Grand Final result recap or the pre-match Grand Final tips.
A-League Finals 2026 Schedule
The finals are played across four weekends in May. 1st and 2nd on the regular-season ladder get a Week 1 bye straight into the two-legged Semi Finals.
| Week | Dates | Stage | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 ✅ | 2 May 2026 — played | Elimination Finals — Auckland def. Melbourne City (pens), Sydney FC def. Melbourne Victory 1-0 | Single-leg, higher seed hosts |
| Week 2 ✅ | 9 May 2026 — played | Semi Finals — 1st leg: Sydney 1-1 Newcastle, Auckland 1-1 Adelaide (both ties level) | Lower seed hosts |
| Week 3 ✅ | 15-16 May 2026 — played | Semi Finals — 2nd leg: Auckland 4-1 Adelaide agg, Sydney FC won 4-2 on pens v Newcastle (agg 2-2) | Higher seed hosts, aggregate decides |
| Week 4 | Sat 23 May 2026, 4pm AEST | Grand Final: Auckland FC v Sydney FC @ Go Media Stadium — see our GF preview | Single-leg, highest-ranked team hosts |
Elimination Finals — Results
Both Week 1 EFs delivered drama, with the higher seeds advancing to the Semi-Finals — but only after Auckland needed extra time and a penalty shootout to see off the defending champions.
| Match | Result | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland FC v Melbourne City | 1-1 (a.e.t.) — Auckland 7-6 on penalties | Go Media Stadium, 11,351 attendance. May 45+3′ (AKL); Memeti 90+4′ (MEL). |
| Melbourne Victory v Sydney FC | 0-1 | AAMI Park, 15,258 attendance. Wood 80′ decided the Big Blue. |
Eliminated: Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory. The defending champions Melbourne City came within minutes of a famous comeback in Auckland — Memeti’s 90+4′ equaliser sent the EF to extra time and penalties — but the Black Knights held their nerve in the shootout. Sydney FC’s Big Blue win at AAMI Park was a more controlled affair, with Joe Wood’s 80th-minute strike enough to send the Sky Blues through to face the Premiers in the Semi-Finals.
Semi-Final First Legs — Saturday 9 May
| Tie | 1st Leg (lower seed hosts) | 2nd Leg |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets | Sydney FC 1-1 Newcastle Jets ✅ (Allianz, 9 May) | Sat 16 May, 7:40pm AEST — McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle |
| Auckland FC v Adelaide United | Auckland FC 1-1 Adelaide United ✅ (Go Media, 9 May) | Fri 15 May, 7:35pm ACST — Coopers Stadium, Adelaide |
Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets — read
The Premiers got their bye and a fresh week, the Sky Blues come in carrying 120 minutes of EF football and the away leg first — a difficult ask. But Sydney FC have been here before more than any other club in the bracket; if they keep the tie within a goal at Allianz, they can fancy taking it back to Newcastle. Newcastle’s home form has been a real factor all season — McDonald Jones Stadium is where this tie likely gets decided. Newcastle to advance on aggregate remains the head-pick, but Sydney FC at the head price for the first leg is the line worth considering.
Auckland FC v Adelaide United — read
The most intriguing tie of the bracket. Auckland came through Wednesday’s EF in extra time and on penalties — fresh legs are not on the menu, but the Black Knights play their best football at Go Media Stadium and the home crowd will be loud. Adelaide come in fresh after the bye and with the cleaner shape of the four surviving sides. The two-legged format favours Adelaide’s defensive discipline; if they can keep this tight in Auckland, the home leg at Coopers Stadium becomes the decider. Both teams to score reads strong for leg 1; Adelaide on aggregate is the tie outright play.
Finalists Based on the Current Ladder
The top six finalists were locked in after Round 26 — and after Saturday’s Elimination Finals, the four surviving sides are Newcastle Jets, Adelaide United, Auckland FC and Sydney FC. The original bracket and how each team’s finals path now sits:
| Pos | Team | Pts | Week 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newcastle Jets | 48 | Bye — straight to Semi Final |
| 2 | Adelaide United | 43 | Bye — straight to Semi Final |
| 3 | Auckland FC | 42 | Hosts 6th (Melbourne City) |
| 4 | Melbourne Victory | 40 | Hosts 5th (Sydney FC) |
| 5 | Sydney FC | 39 | Travel to 4th (Melbourne Victory) |
| 6 | Melbourne City | 38 | Travel to 3rd (Auckland FC) |
Team-by-Team Finals Outlook
Newcastle Jets — 1st (Premiers)
The Jets locked up the Premier’s Plate with 48 points and a 15-3-8 record — the best in the competition. The Week 1 bye means a fresh and rested side walks into a home Semi Final knowing they only need to win two ties (one over two legs, one over one leg) to lift the Championship. The forward line has been the most reliable in the comp and the home crowd at McDonald Jones Stadium has been a real factor. Strong outright favourites in the A-League Championship futures market.
Adelaide United — 2nd (story of Round 26)
Adelaide were the surprise package of the final round, jumping from 3rd to 2nd to claim the second Week 1 bye and dropping Auckland FC out of the top two. They finished on 43 points (12-7-7) with positive goal difference and an in-form attacking spine. The two-legged Semi Final favours their disciplined system, and Coopers Stadium becomes a genuine fortress in finals knockout football. Now arguably the best-value Championship futures play behind Newcastle.
Auckland FC — 3rd (advanced via penalty shootout)
From the dream Week 1 bye to a single-leg Elimination Final at home in Auckland — that’s the cost of finishing 3rd instead of 2nd. Auckland still have the competition’s best goal difference (+13) and arguably the most coherent system, but the road to the trophy now means winning three knockout ties (one EF, one two-legged Semi, one Grand Final). The Friday night EF v Melbourne City at Go Media Stadium (3pm AEST, 2 May) is a banana skin given City’s finals pedigree. Now an each-way play in the Championship market.
Melbourne Victory — 4th (ELIMINATED)
Eliminated by Sydney FC 1-0 in the Big Blue Elimination Final on Saturday 2 May at AAMI Park. Joe Wood’s 80th-minute goal was the decider in a tight, controlled affair.
The Victory have been one of the in-form sides of the final stretch, climbing to 4th and securing a home Elimination Final at AAMI Park. They host 5th-placed Sydney FC in Week 1 (7:40pm AEST Saturday 2 May) — the headline EF of the round and a rivalry that always delivers. With Grand Final pedigree and a strong travelling support, the Victory’s path is open if they can navigate the Sydney FC tie. Live outside chance and one of the better value Championship plays in the bottom half of the bracket.
Sydney FC — 5th (advanced — Big Blue winners)
Australia’s most decorated A-League club drop to 5th and travel to Melbourne Victory in the Saturday night EF. The Sky Blues have the deepest finals experience of any side in the bracket — six A-League Championships and a knack for finding gears in knockout football that they don’t show in the regular season. The away Elimination Final at AAMI Park is a tough draw, but if any team can win one on the road, it’s this one.
Melbourne City — 6th (ELIMINATED)
Eliminated by Auckland FC after a 1-1 draw and 7-6 penalty shootout loss at Go Media Stadium on Saturday 2 May. Melbourne City came within minutes of a famous comeback when Memeti levelled in 90+4′, but the Black Knights held their nerve in the shootout.
The defending champions snuck into the top six on the final weekend and now travel across the Tasman to face Auckland FC in the EF1 opener (3pm AEST Saturday 2 May at Go Media Stadium). It’s the longest possible path — three away knockouts to get back to a home Grand Final — but City have done this before, with one of the most experienced finals squads in the competition. Backing them at long odds for back-to-back Championships isn’t crazy.
A-League Finals Betting Markets
All major Australian bookmakers price a deep menu of finals markets. The core markets to watch:
- A-League Championship futures — outright market on who lifts the trophy. Newcastle Jets and Auckland FC dominate the top of the market, with Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC the main value plays.
- Grand Finalist markets — split into “to reach Grand Final” and “to win Grand Final”. Often better value on the reach-Grand-Final line than pure outright for the 2nd-4th seeds.
- Match result (1X2) — priced for every individual finals match with standard home/draw/away lines.
- Total Goals (Over/Under) — A-League finals typically play out as tighter, lower-scoring affairs than regular-season games. O/U 2.5 lines are the most commonly priced threshold.
- Both Teams To Score — BTTS tends to be undervalued by bookmakers in finals given the defensive focus, but selectively applicable.
- Same Game Multi — combine match result + goalscorer + total goals within a single match. See our Same Game Multi guide for how to size these correctly.
- Top Goalscorer (finals only) — a niche but sometimes-priced market for the top scorer across the four-week finals window.
How to Watch the A-League Finals
Every match of the 2026 A-League finals is broadcast live on Paramount+, with one match per week simulcast free-to-air on Channel 10 (10 Drama). In New Zealand, all matches are live on Sky Sport. Major Australian bookmakers also offer live streaming of A-League matches to funded account holders who have placed a bet on the match.
Best Bookmakers for A-League Finals Betting
All of our top-rated Australian sportsbooks price A-League finals markets deeply, with futures, head-to-head, SGM and live in-play options across every match. For a full comparison of the best A-League betting sites, see our best soccer betting sites in Australia guide.
A-League Finals 2026 FAQs
What’s next in the A-League finals?
The Semi-Final first legs are this Saturday 9 May 2026: Sydney FC v Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium (7:40pm AEST) and Auckland FC v Adelaide United at Go Media Stadium (4pm AEST / 6pm NZST). The two-legged Semis are decided on aggregate over Week 2 and Week 3, with the Grand Final on the weekend of 23-24 May.
When is the A-League Grand Final?
The 2026 A-League Grand Final is scheduled for the weekend of 23–24 May 2026. It will be played as a single match at the home ground of the highest-ranked team remaining.
How does the A-League finals format work?
The top six teams qualify. 1st and 2nd get a Week 1 bye. Elimination Finals are 3rd vs 6th and 4th vs 5th, single-leg with higher seed hosting. Semi Finals are played over two legs across weeks 2 and 3 with lower seed hosting the first leg; aggregate score decides. The Grand Final is a single match at the higher-ranked team’s home ground.
Which teams are still in the 2026 A-League finals?
Four teams remain after Saturday’s Elimination Finals: Newcastle Jets (Premiers, bye), Adelaide United (2nd, bye), Auckland FC (advanced via penalty shootout v Melbourne City) and Sydney FC (advanced via 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory). Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory have been eliminated.
Where can I watch the A-League finals?
All matches are live on Paramount+, with one match per week free-to-air on Channel 10 (10 Drama). Sky Sport carries coverage in New Zealand.
Who are the favourites for the 2026 A-League Championship?
Newcastle Jets are still the market favourites after their bye and home Semi-Final advantage. Adelaide United remain the second-favourites — they bypassed the EFs entirely and host Auckland in the second leg. Auckland FC and Sydney FC have both come through the EFs and now play the away first leg of the Semis; Sydney FC at extended each-way odds is the value play, while Auckland are still well respected by the market thanks to their season-long form.
Looking for the best bookmakers to bet on the A-League?
At BettingPro.com.au, we provide up-to-date info on the best Australian online betting sites for the 2025-26 A-League season and finals. Get the best odds, expert tips, and all the insights you need to make informed bets.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
2025-26 Johnny Warren Medal
Melbourne Victory’s Juan Mata claimed the 2025-26 Johnny Warren Medal with a commanding 36 votes after a debut A-League season featuring 13 assists. Melbourne City captain Aziz Behich finished second, with Auckland FC trio Lachie Brook, Louis Verstraete and Jesse Randall rounding out the top five.
Johnny Warren Medal | A-League MVP Winners, History & Betting
A-League Grand Final 2026 Tips & Preview — Auckland FC vs Sydney FC
Auckland FC vs Adelaide United Tips, Predictions & Preview – A-League Semi-Final 1st Leg
Sydney FC vs Newcastle Jets Tips, Predictions & Preview – A-League Semi-Final 1st Leg
Newcastle Jets vs Sydney FC Tips, Prediction & Preview
Wellington Phoenix vs Sydney FC Tips, Prediction & Preview
Macarthur FC vs Melbourne City Tips, Predictions & Preview
Melbourne Victory vs Melbourne City Tips, Prediction & Preview
