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New Zealand National League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the men's league. For the women's league, see New Zealand Women's National League.

New Zealand National League
Founded2021; 4 years ago (2021)
CountryNew Zealand
ConfederationOFC
Number of clubs11
Level on pyramid1
Domestic cup(s)Chatham Cup
Charity Cup
International cupOFC Champions League
Current championsAuckland City (2nd title)
(2024)
Most championshipsAuckland City
(2 titles)
Top scorerGarbhan Coughlan (28)
Broadcaster(s)FIFA+
TVNZ (Highlights)
Websitenzfootball.co.nz/nzfnl
Current: 2025 National League

The New Zealand Men's National League (NZNL), known as the Dettol Men's National League for sponsorship reasons, is an amateur[1] men's football league at the top of the New Zealand football league system. Founded in 2021, the New Zealand National League is the successor to the New Zealand Football Championship. The league is contested by ten teams, with teams qualifying from their regional leagues. Four teams qualify from the Northern League, three qualify from the Central League, two qualify from the newly formed Southern League, the Auckland FC Reserves and Wellington Phoenix Reserves are automatically given a spot each year.[2][3][4]

The regional leagues run from March through to September, with each league having a varying number of games. The Championship phase runs after the completion of the regional phase with each team playing each other once, followed by a grand final. Each season, two clubs gain qualification to the OFC Champions League, the continental competition for the Oceania region.

As of 2023, the New Zealand National League had been Oceania's strongest national league for four consecutive years, according to IFFHS.[5]

Competition format

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Regional National League Zones

There are two stages to the competition: the regional phase, in which each team plays each other twice in their respective regions; and the championship phase, in which the top teams in each region play a single round-robin competition, followed by a grand final in order to determine the champion.[4] Each team can field a maximum of four foreign players as well as one additional foreign player who has Oceania Football Confederation nationality.[6] Originally each team had to also start at least two players aged 20 or under in every game.[7] Before the 2023 season this was changed so that players aged 20 or under must account for 10% of available playing minutes throughout the season.[8]

Proposed changes

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In August 2025, it was revealed that New Zealand Football planned to restructure the National League for the 2027 season, based on the structure of the former National Soccer League, following several months of consultation and feedback. The proposal would see the removal of the summer Championship phase, contested from September to December, and its replacement with a winter-based National League. Three potential formats were outlined; a 12-team round robin with a finals series, a 12-team round robin without a finals series, or a 14-team round robin without a finals series. All proposed formats would continue to allow clubs to participate in the Chatham Cup.[9][10][11]

Among the most prominent topics of feedback was the under-20 player rule. New Zealand Football indicated a proposal to remove the current version of the rule, while ensuring the national talent development pathways are still maintained. Another area of review was the foreign player rule, which at present counts only New Zealand citizens as local players. The proposed amendment would expand this definition to include New Zealand permanent residents.[9][10][11]

Qualification to OFC Champions League

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The winners of the National League Grand-Final qualify for the OFC Champions League each season, it used to be two team qualify; those two teams being the two finalists of the championship phase.[4]

History

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In March 2021, New Zealand Football announced a change to the structure of both the premiership and the top regional leagues around the country. The four top regional leagues (NRFL Premier, Central Premier League, Mainland Premier League and the FootballSouth Premier League) would be formed into the Northern League, Central League, and the Southern League. These leagues would allow local clubs to qualify for the premiership season (now known as the National League Championship), with the top 4 teams from the Northern League, the top 3 teams from the Central League, and the top 2 teams from the Southern League making up the competition, alongside the Wellington Phoenix Reserve side. All teams that qualify plus the Phoenix Reserves, would then play a single round-robin competition between October and December. The top two placed teams will then progress to the Grand Final.[12]

In 2021 New Zealand Football announced a change in plans to the Championship phase of the 2021 competition due to COVID-19 alert levels.[13] The Championship phase was to be split up into two 'Hubs', the Auckland Hub and the South Hub, followed by a finals series. The Auckland Hub had Northern League team competing, with the South Hub having Central League and Southern League teams competing.[13] Later on the 1 November, after confirmation that the alert levels would not change to allow the Auckland and Waikato teams to play any further part in the National Competition, New Zealand Football announced that they were cancelling the remainder of the National League.[14] New Zealand Football replaced this with a one-off competition, the South Central Series, for teams qualifying from the Central League and Southern League. Miramar Rangers were both the premiers and champions for this stand alone competition.[15]

The 2022 New Zealand National League Championship phase kicked off on 1 October 2022.[16] The 10 inaugural members were:

Auckland City were both the premiers and champions with beating Wellington Olympic in the grand final.[17] Auckland City also won the OFC Champions League and the Chatham Cup.

The 2023 New Zealand National League Championship phase kicked off on 23 September 2023.[18] It's Eastern Suburbs, Manurewa and Petone's first time in the league and they replacing Birkenhead United, Miramar Rangers and Melville United. Wellington Olympic were both the premiers and champions with beating Auckland City in the grand final.[19] Auckland City won the OFC Champions League and Christchurch United won the Chatham Cup.

The 2024 New Zealand National League Championship phase kicked off on 23 September 2024.[20] It's Coastal Spirit, Western Springs and Western Suburbs's first time in the league, they are joined by Birkenhead United competing for the second time. They replacing Auckland United, Christchurch United, Manurewa and Petone. Birkenhead United were the premiers and Auckland City were champions with beating Birkenhead United in the grand final.[21] Auckland City won the OFC Champions League and Wellington Olympic won the Chatham Cup.

The 2025 New Zealand National League Championship phase will kick off on 27 September 2025. The league expanded for the first time to 11 teams from 10 teams, the expansions was to include New Zealand's second A-League club Auckland FC's Reserve team. It's their first time in the league, they are joined by Auckland United and Christchurch United competing for the third time, as well as Miramar Rangers for the second time. They replacing Cashmere Technical, Eastern Suburbs and Napier City Rovers. Auckland City won the OFC Champions League and Wellington Olympic won the Chatham Cup.

Current clubs

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class=notpageimage|
Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2025 National League season
Northern League; Central League; Southern League
class=notpageimage|
Location of clubs in Auckland Region for the 2025 National League season
class=notpageimage|
Location of clubs in Wellington Region for the 2025 National League season
class=notpageimage|
Location of clubs in Christchurch District for the 2025 National League season

These are the current clubs for the 2025 National League Championship phase season:

Team Stadium Location Qualification
Auckland City Kiwitea Street Sandringham, Auckland Northern League 4th place
Auckland FC Reserves Fred Taylor Park Whenuapai, Auckland Automatic qualification
Auckland United Keith Hay Park Mount Roskill, Auckland Northern League 3rd place
Birkenhead United Shepherds Park Beach Haven, Auckland Northern League runners-up
Christchurch United United Sports Centre Spreydon, Christchurch Southern League runners-up
Coastal Spirit Linfield Park Bromley, Christchurch Southern League champion
Miramar Rangers David Farrington Park Miramar, Wellington Central League runners-up
Wellington Olympic Wakefield Park Island Bay, Wellington Central League champion
Wellington Phoenix Reserves Fraser Park Taitā, Lower Hutt Automatic qualification
Western Springs Seddon Fields Westmere, Auckland Northern League Champions
Western Suburbs Endeavour Park Whitby, Porirua Central League 3rd place

Seasons

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There are 17 teams that have taken part in 4 National League Championships that were played from the 2022 season until the 2025 season. The teams in bold compete in the National League Championship phase currently. The year in parentheses represents the most recent year of participation at this level. Three teams have competed in every National League Championship season, those being Auckland City, Wellington Olympic and Wellington Phoenix Reserves.

Sponsorship

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On 31 January 2025, New Zealand Football agreed a multi-year sponsorship deal with cleaning brand Dettol for naming rights of the National League from the start of the 2025 season.[22]

Media coverage

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Sky Sport had the broadcasting rights for the first two seasons (including the South Central Series). One game a week was live on television with the remaining four games free to air on either the Sky Sport Next or New Zealand Football YouTube channels.[23][24]

In September 2023, New Zealand signed a deal to have all National League games streamed for free on FIFA+ worldwide. This includes select games of the qualifying league games as well.[25][26] On 8 May 2024, New Zealand Football announced they had partnered with Sportway to continue broadcasting on FIFA+. 4K Sportway cameras have begun to be installed at grounds as of May 2024 with plans to broadcast over 200 games for the 2024 season,[27] as well as the 2025 season.[2]

Past winners

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Qualifying leagues

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Season Northern League Central League Southern League
2021 Auckland City Wellington Olympic Cashmere Technical
2022 Auckland City Wellington Olympic Christchurch United
2023 Auckland City Wellington Olympic Christchurch United
2024 Auckland City Wellington Olympic Cashmere Technical
2025 Western Springs Wellington Olympic Coastal Spirit

Championship

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Season Grand Final
Champions Score Runners-up
2021[a] Miramar Rangers 7–2 Wellington Olympic
2022 Auckland City 3–2 Wellington Olympic
2023 Wellington Olympic 2–0 Auckland City
2024 Auckland City 2–1 (a.e.t.) Birkenhead United
  1. ^ 2021 National League season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Northern regions;[28] Championship played as South Central Series, with the northern clubs missing in the first edition.

Top scorers

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Season Top scorer(s) Club(s) Goals
2021 National League season cancelled
2022 New Zealand Gianni Bouzoukis
Republic of Ireland Garbhan Coughlan 		Wellington Olympic
Cashmere Technical 		9
2023 New Zealand Gianni Bouzoukis
Republic of Ireland Garbhan Coughlan 		Wellington Olympic
Cashmere Technical 		11
2024 New Zealand Daniel Bunch
Republic of Ireland Garbhan Coughlan
New Zealand Monty Patterson 		Birkenhead United
Cashmere Technical
Birkenhead United 		8

Records

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The records are up to date as of the end of the 2024 season. As the 2021 season was cancelled, the 2021 South Central Series was not officially part of the National League.[28]

MVP winners

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Season Winner(s) Club(s)
2022[29] Croatia Silvio Rodić Birkenhead United
2023[30] Republic of Ireland Garbhan Coughlan Cashmere Technical
2024[31] New Zealand Monty Patterson Birkenhead United

Steve Sumner Trophy

[edit]
Season Winner(s) Club(s)
2023[32] New Zealand Joel Stevens Wellington Olympic
2024[31] New Zealand Mario Ilich Auckland City
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OFC Champions League

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Main article: OFC Champions League

The OFC Champions League, also known as the O-League, is the premier football competition in Oceania. It is organised by the OFC, Oceania's football governing body. It has been organised since 2007 under the current format, following its successor, the Oceania Club Championship. Two teams from the New Zealand National League participate annually. Four O-League titles have been won by teams from New Zealand.

Charity Cup

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Main article: Charity Cup

The Charity Cup was introduced in 2011 and is contested between the winner of the National League Grand Final and the winner of the Chatham Cup.[33] Although it was planned to start in 2022 after the inaugural season of the National League, the Charity Cup only restarted in 2024.[34][35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/129546987/the-sham-of-amateurism-in-top-club-football
  2. ^ a b "Fixtures Announced for the Dettol National League 2025, with Auckland FC Joining the Men's Competition for the First Time". New Zealand Football. 28 February 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  3. ^ "New National League competition". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "New National League system". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  5. ^ "IFFHS MEN'S STRONGEST NATIONAL LEAGUE IN THE WORLD - THE TOP 100". IFFHS. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 25 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Two National League clubs found to have breached foreign player regulations". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Youth leads the way in new National League". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  8. ^ "National League regulations for U-20 players revised". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Men's and women's National Leagues face major changes". friendsoffootballnz.com. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b "New Zealand Football National Competitions Plan – Feedback and Proposal Paper" (PDF). New Zealand Football. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b Reid, Neil (11 September 2025). "'Biggest year': Planning imperative ahead of New Zealand Football's major National League restructure". NZ Hearld. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  12. ^ "New National League competition details confirmed". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Format unveiled to play national competitions under COVID-19 limitations". New Zealand Football. 8 October 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  14. ^ "National League Championship cancelled, new interregional competition announced and Chatham Cup moved to 2022". NZFootball.co.nz. Retrieved 12 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Goal-filled final weekend in the South Central Series as Miramar Rangers (men) and Southern United (women) crowned winners". NZFootball.co.nz. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  16. ^ "National League Championship 2022 fixtures launched". New Zealand Football. 14 September 2022.
  17. ^ "Auckland City FC win National League Championship Grand Final to claim 4th title of the season". Oceania Football Confederation. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Fixtures out as Men's National League gets underway on September 23". friendsoffootballnz.com. 12 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Wellington Olympic win men's National League Championship Grand Final". New Zealand Football. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  20. ^ "Fixtures released for women's and men's National League competitions". New Zealand Football. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Auckland City FC Win National League Championship After Tight Grand Final". New Zealand Football. 1 December 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Dettol Become Major Partner of New Zealand Football and Official Naming Partner of the Dettol National League". New Zealand Football. 31 January 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Updated broadcast schedule released for National League Championship with 85 games free to air". New Zealand Football. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  24. ^ "Fixture List 2022". New Zealand Football. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  25. ^ "New Zealand Football signs long-term partnership with FIFA+ to make international friendlies and domestic competitions free to watch". New Zealand Football. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  26. ^ "How to watch New Zealand football live on FIFA+". FIFA. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  27. ^ "New Zealand Football partner with Sportway to broadcast over 200 live domestic games in 2024". New Zealand Football. 8 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  28. ^ a b "National League Championship cancelled, new interregional competition announced and Chatham Cup moved to 2022". New Zealand Football.
  29. ^ "Birkenhead 'keeper Silvio Rodic named MVP for Men's National League". friendsoffootballnz.com. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Announced at today's #NZNationalLeague Championship Grand Final were the winners of the men's and women's MVP and Golden Boot awards". New Zealand Football Twitter. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  31. ^ a b "Congratulations to all the individual awards winners in the Men's National League Championship 2024 🎉". New Zealand Football Instagram. Retrieved 4 December 2004.
  32. ^ "Olympic's Joel Stevens wins Steve Sumner Trophy for Grand Final performance". friendsoffootballnz.com. 26 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  33. ^ "National League Regulations 2021". New Zealand Football. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  34. ^ "NZF Charity Cup returns to kick off the 2024 domestic football season". New Zealand Football. 21 February 2024. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  35. ^ "Wellington Olympic to face Christchurch United in season-opening Charity Cup". friendsoffootballnz.com. 22 February 2024. Retrieved 23 February 2024.
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