2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League season fixtures revealed
The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) has released the full fixture list for the 2026/27 Isuzu UTE A-League season. The campaign is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 16, with a match between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers at Allianz Stadium. This encounter marks the 45th Sydney Derby and is the first time this rivalry will open a men’s season. The season will span 28 matchweeks, including two split matchweeks in December and February, with each club playing 26 games. This includes a full home-and-away schedule complemented by four additional third-match fixtures.
The league plans to feature marquee matches in the initial rounds, leading into a busy summer of football. The second half of the season will introduce the first league-wide Grassroots Celebration during Matchweek 19 and 20. Following this, the A-Leagues’ ANZAC Day commemoration will take place in Matchweek 26. The Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final is set for the weekend of June 4-6, 2027.
APL CEO Steve Rosich noted that the fixtures were released earlier than usual to provide clubs, venues, and fans more time for planning. He highlighted the focus on blockbuster games early in the season to boost engagement. Rosich also mentioned the new Grassroots Celebration, designed to connect with the sport’s participation base in Australia and New Zealand, and the ANZAC Commemoration, which will recognise the sacrifices of service members from both nations.
Key opening weekend matchups
Following the opening Sydney Derby, Champions Auckland FC will host Melbourne City at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, October 17, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm NZT. This match is part of a Super Saturday in the A-Leagues. After this game, attention will shift to Campbelltown, where Macarthur Bulls will play Perth Glory at 5pm AEST. The reigning Premiers Newcastle Jets are set to travel to polytec Stadium to face Central Coast Mariners at 7:40pm AEST.
On Sunday, October 18, Wellington Phoenix will commence their campaign with a home fixture against Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium. This match will be followed by Brisbane Roar travelling to South Australia to play Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, kicking off at 3pm AEST. Phoenix head coach Chris Greenacre expressed enthusiasm for the home opener against Melbourne Victory, particularly given the club’s 20th season and his past connections with the opposing team.
Broadcast and international considerations
Paramount ANZ will continue as the exclusive home for the A-Leagues, with all Isuzu UTE A-League matches available live on Paramount+. One match per week will be broadcast free-to-air on Network 10, with marquee games featured on Network 10’s primary channel, 10, aiming to reach a broader audience. In New Zealand, Sky holds the exclusive broadcast rights, with all matches live on Sky Sport and available for streaming on Sky Sport Now and Sky Go. Selected games will also be accessible free-to-air on Sky Open and ThreeNow.
The fixture schedule has also considered the FIFA international windows in November and March. The league will continue to play through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which is scheduled from January 7 to February 5 in Saudi Arabia. During this period, Isuzu UTE A-League matches will be scheduled daily leading up to the Socceroos’ group stage matches. The scheduling also took into account the AFC club competitions, with three teams representing the Isuzu UTE A-League this season, posing additional challenges for clubs like the Jets due to venue availability at McDonald Jones Stadium early in the season.
Source: aleagues.com.au
