New Zealand National League

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. Originally each team had to also start at least two players aged 20 or under in every game. 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. Proposed changes 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. 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. Qualification to OFC Champions League 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. ==History==

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. In 2021 New Zealand Football announced a change in plans to the Championship phase of the 2021 competition due to COVID-19 alert levels. 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. 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. The 2022 New Zealand National League Championship phase kicked off on 1 October 2022. The 10 inaugural members were: • Auckland City • Auckland United • Birkenhead United • Cashmere Technical • Christchurch United • Miramar Rangers • Melville United • Napier City Rovers • Wellington Olympic • Wellington Phoenix Reserves Auckland City were both the premiers and champions with beating Wellington Olympic in the grand final. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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==

{{Location map+|New Zealand|width = 380|float = right|caption = Location of clubs in New Zealand for the 2026 National League season Northern League; Central League; Southern League |places = {{Location map~ |New Zealand |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=-34.885158 |long=166.630608 |label_size=80|label=Auckland teams: Auckland City Auckland FC Reserves Auckland United Bay Olympic Birkenhead United| Eastern Suburbs Fencibles United Manukau United Western Springs Wellington teams: Island Bay United Miramar Rangers Petone Waterside Karori Wellington Olympic AFC| Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves| These are the current clubs for the 2025 National League Championship phase season: Seasons 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. • 4 seasons: Auckland City (2025), Wellington Olympic (2025), Wellington Phoenix Reserves (2025) • 3 seasons: Auckland United (2025), Birkenhead United (2025), Cashmere Technical (2024), Christchurch United (2025), Napier City Rovers (2024) • 2 seasons: Coastal Spirit (2025), Eastern Suburbs (2024), Miramar Rangers (2025), Western Springs (2025), Western Suburbs (2025) • 1 season: Auckland FC Reserves (2025), Manurewa (2023), Melville United (2022), Petone (2023) ==Sponsorship==

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. ==Media coverage==

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. 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. 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, as well as the 2025 season. ==Past winners==

Qualifying leagues Championship By league By region By city/town } Auckland ==Top scorers==

The records are up to date as of the end of the 2025 season. As the 2021 season was cancelled, the 2021 South Central Series was not officially part of the National League. • Biggest home win: – Western Suburbs 8–0 Coastal Spirit (5 October 2025) • Biggest away win: • Napier City Rovers 0–5 Eastern Suburbs (11 November 2023) • Western Suburbs 2–7 Wellington Phoenix Reserves (6 December 2025) • Highest scoring match: – Manurewa 4–6 Wellington Phoenix Reserve (8 October 2023) • Most goals scored in a season: 34 – Wellington Olympic (2023) • Most goals scored in a season (including final): 36 – Wellington Olympic (2023) • Fewest goals conceded in a season: 8 – Wellington Olympic (2022) • Highest points in a season: 23 – Wellington Olympic (2023) Appearances Top scorers MVP winners Steve Sumner Trophy ==Related competitions==

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 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. Although it was planned to start in 2022 after the inaugural season of the National League, the Charity Cup only restarted in 2024. ==See also==