A-League Men clubs will play 26 regular-season games in the upcoming 2025/26 season, despite cash-strapped Western United’s exclusion.
Adelaide United will face off against Sydney FC in the season opener at Coopers Stadium on October 17, before Brisbane Roar host Macarthur FC on the same day.
The A-League Women (ALW) will be played across 22 rounds, with Western Sydney opening the season against Perth Glory at Wanderers Football Park on October 31.
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) revealed the fixture on Thursday after embattled Western United were placed in hibernation last week.
Derbies dominate the fixture for the upcoming men’s season, with long-standing rivalries taking place on three occasions.
Local rivals Newcastle and Central Coast will face off in an F3 derby in the opening round.
With Unite Round scrapped this season, the Jets will host the Bulls in the first Boxing Day match since 2022 as the APL looks to introduce more marquee match-ups and fewer midweek fixtures.
During the ‘summer period’ from round six to round 20, matches will start after 5pm local time – with the exception of a few matches due to time zones and broadcast commitments.
Finals will take place from May 1-24, with the grand final slated to be played on the weekend of May 23-24, ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Clubs in the women’s competition will play 20 home-and-away fixtures, plus two bye rounds.
The ALW finals will begin on the weekend of April 24-26, with the grand final to be held on the weekend of May 15-17.
There will be a two-week pause from late February for the home Women’s Asian Cup, with the league to return on March 13 during the knock-out stages of the continental tournament.
Western United sit out of the upcoming season with hopes of returning in the 2026/27 campaign.
The Tarneit-based club received a boost when Football Australia announced a new appeal process would take place to hear their plea to have its licence reinstated.
Current players, including midfielders Angus Thurgate and Dylan Leonard, are now free agents available to rival clubs while the transfer window remains open.
United coach John Aloisi, who signed a new contract in July, is also available should any vacancies appear over the coming months.
Source: AAP
