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Auckland Football Club, commonly known as Auckland FC, is a professional football club based in Auckland, New Zealand that competes in the A-League, the top flight of Australian soccer and the OFC Professional League. They became both the A-League and the OFC Professional League champions for the 2025–26 season.
Established on 14 March 2024, the club is under license from the APL. The club's home ground is the Mount Smart Stadium, currently known as the Go Media Stadium for sponsorship reasons, in Penrose. Auckland was given an A-League license under its chosen owner Bill Foley in November 2023, as part of the third tranche competition expansion.[1] The club achieved early success by claiming the Premiership in the 2024–25 regular season, and the Championship in 2026, becoming only the second expansion side to win the former in their debut season, after Western Sydney Wanderers in the regular 2012–13 season.
In March 2023, the Australian Professional Leagues confirmed plans for the next two expansion clubs to be based in Canberra and Auckland ahead of the 2024–25 season.[2] In October 2023, the preferred bidder as owner of the new Auckland license was confirmed to be Bill Foley,[3] with the license officially awarded on 21 November.[4] Speaking at the time of the license awarding in November 2023, Foley stated there "was a lot of work to do" to determine the name and logo for the club and that he was "not wedded to any name at this point", despite expressing a personal preference for "Black Knights".[5]
On 14 March 2024, the club officially announced its name, logo and inaugural home kit at its headquarters in Auckland. The kit (manufactured by New Balance) featured electric blue and black vertical stripes as its main features.[6] The nickname was unveiled to be "Black Knights", which is associated with several clubs that Foley owns and refers to the nickname of the sports teams at his alma mater, the United States Military Academy.[7]Terry McFlynn was chosen as the inaugural director of football,[8] and Steve Corica as head coach.[9] Auckland announced their first player signings in May 2024, ahead of the 2024–25 season.[10]
On 19 October 2024, Auckland played their inaugural A-League Men's fixture at the Mount Smart Stadium against Brisbane Roar. In front of, a sell-out crowd of 24,492, the club secured a 2–0 win.[11] Auckland would then go on to win their next 5 games and go undefeated for their first seven league matches. One of these wins was in the first New Zealand derby at Sky Stadium against Wellington Phoenix, thanks to a late brace from Jake Brimmer.[12] Auckland finished the 2024–25 season as A-League Men Premiers, becoming the first New Zealand-based club to win A-League silverware. Auckland did not qualify for the 2025–26 AFC Champions League Elite competition, as the team is based in New Zealand and is a member of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC). In their first finals series, Auckland won 1–0 at AAMI Park against Melbourne Victory,[13] but later lost 2–0 (2–1 on aggregate) in front of a record crowd of 29,148 at Mount Smart Stadium.[14][15]
The club colours are blue and black, associated with the traditional royal blue of Auckland.[16] The crest features an A in its centre to symbolise the city, representing Rangitoto Island and the Sky Tower. The black knight visor and stripes represent the club's owner Black Knight Sports & Entertainment.[16] The club's short name AFC is displayed on the crest.[17]
Go Media Stadium, current home ground of Auckland FC
Auckland play their home matches at the Mount Smart Stadium, currently known as the Go Media Stadium due to sponsorship reasons, a 17,500-seat capacity venue located in the suburb of Penrose, approximately 10 kilometers south of Auckland's city centre.[18] The club's owner, Bill Foley, has stated that the ground will be used for a "few years" before a new 20,000-seat stadium is developed on the Auckland waterfront.[19] Due to scheduling conflicts with National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors, the club uses the North Harbour Stadium as its training ground.[20]
On 20 March 2025 it was confirmed Auckland FC were pursuing a stadium development at Western Springs Stadium.[28] Plans include a new 12,500-15,000 seat, stadium, community sports facilities, hospitality and medical services.[29] In early July 2025 Auckland FC scrapped their bid for a stadium at Western Springs Stadium and instead announced their intention to extend their deal with Go Media Stadium and North Harbour Stadium.[30]
The Port are an independent supporters' group associated with Auckland FC.[31] The club also have a supporters' pub located at Tyler Street Sport, a bar in the Auckland CBD.[32]
As the third Auckland-based club to compete in the top flight of Australia, succeeding from Football Kingz and New Zealand Knights, Auckland share a rivalry with Wellington Phoenix, who have been the only New Zealand club in the A-League Men since the 2007–08 season.[33] The rivalry has quickly blossomed, due to the inter-city rivalry already established and especially since the controversial signing of former Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen on loan from AFC Bournemouth also owned by Auckland FC owner Bill Foley. Despite the disparity in on-field performance in the matches between the two clubs and their respective seasons, all three matches between the two rivals were highly attended by A-League standards, all having crowds of over 26,000, and each successive match breaking the previous domestic regular-season record in New Zealand.
Auckland FC became the first team in A-League history to go undefeated in rivalry matches in a single season, winning all three fixtures during the 2024–25 campaign, including the club’s biggest win, a 6–1 victory on 22 February 2025.[34][35][36]
In the 2025–26 season, during their third meeting of the campaign (sixth overall), Auckland FC defeated Wellington Phoenix 5–0, extending their unbeaten run against their rivals.[37] Following the match, Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano resigned, having failed to record a win against Auckland FC, with an aggregate score of 20–4 across the six meetings.[38][39]
Auckland FC fielded a separate restricted squad in the OFC Professional League. On 29 October 2025, Auckland FC was confirmed as one of eight clubs selected to compete in the inaugural OFC Professional League season,[53][54] with Luke Casserly announced as the club's coach on 1 December.[55] The competition commenced in January 2026.
The club played its first competitive match on 17 January, defeating South Island United FC 3–0 at Eden Park in the first North vs South Derby. Oscar Faulds scored the club's first ever OFC Professional League goal, while Bailey Ferguson and Liam Gillion also scored in the inaugural victory.[56] On 24 May 2026, Auckland FC were crowned the OFC Professional League champions following a 2–1 win over South Melbourne at Eden Park.[57]
A women's team was announced in March 2024 and was set to join the A-League Women for the 2025–26 season, however in August 2025 its entry was postponed until the 2027–28 season.[60]
On 11 May 2026, it was announced that as a part of the New Zealand International Football Festival, an Auckland FC Women's invitational XI would face eight time WSL champions Chelsea Women at Eden Park on 8 August 2026. Former Football FernsGoalkeeperJenny Bindon was announced as the head coach of the Auckland Invitational; XI for the fixture, also deciding the squad selection. [61]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Pedro Moreira
Luke Casserly
Cam Kilgour
Bill Foley
Terry McFlynn
Hiroki Sakai
Emiliano Tade & 
Guillermo May
Sam Cosgrove
Neyder Moreno
Louis Verstraete
Jake Brimmer
