The launch of the Australian Championship represents a historic day for Australian football, one worthy of celebration. But it's also a step in a larger journey.

Does the Australia Cup represent the dawn of a new era for the Jets? Maybe. But the trophy is just reward for a fan base and region subjected to years of existential dread.

* Heidelberg United 1-3 Newcastle Jets * Lethlean 8; Burgess 22, Fryer 96, Gibson 115 In the end, there was simply no more magic for Heidelberg United Alexander to call upon. After a history-making run to the final of the Australia Cup, John Anastasiadis’s semi-professional outfit fell in a 3-1 extra-time defeat to the Newcastle Jets on Saturday evening, ending their hopes of becoming the first side from outside the A-League Men to lift the trophy and dashing their dreams of playing in next year’s Asian Champions League 2. That honour will instead go to the Novocastrians, who dragged themselves back up off the canvas after falling behind to Ryan Lethlean’s eighth-minute opener to equalise through Max Burgess in the 21st minute. Over 70 minutes later, they forced themselves in front through Oscar Fryer in the 96th, the substitute cutting inside from the right and curling an unsaveable effort inside the far post before sealing the result in the 115th through a super turn and finish from Ben Gibson. Between the two extra time goals, both sides had a player sent off, first Kosta Grozos for the Jets, then Heidelberg’s Johnny Apostolopoulos. Continue reading...

Juan Mata barely featured for the Wanderers last season. So why have Melbourne Victory snapped up the 37-year-old World Cup winner?

The Australian Championship begins on Friday, Oct. 10. But which clubs are participating? And where will you be able to watch it? Joey Lynch answers some national second-tier FAQs.

Nestory Irankunda and Mohamed Toure shone for Australia against New Zealand. So what do they need to do now to ensure they start for the Socceroos at the World Cup?

* Australia defeat All Whites 3-1 to retain ‘Soccer Ashes’ in Auckland * Mohamed Toure hits a brace while Chris Wood scores for New Zealand The sound you can hear is the Australian football hype-machine kicking into overdrive. The “Soccer Ashes” have been retained, Tony Popovic remains unbeaten as national team boss, and Australia has been given a tantalising glimpse of the future after Mohamed Touré and Nestory Irankunda powered a 3-1 win over New Zealand in Auckland. Touré, 21, and Irankunda, all of 19 years old, were the undisputed stars of the show on Tuesday evening, producing individual moments of brilliance that broke the game open and quickly had Socceroo fans’ thoughts turning to the FIFA World Cup in just under a year. And while Popovic has become a master of ignoring external noise and meticulously following his own plans in pursuit of that global footballing showpiece – his young duo’s star turn came in the same game in which he left Portsmouth dynamo Adrian Segečić out of the squad entirely, in keeping with his habit of sitting youngsters in their first call-up – this was a performance from both to suggest there is ample substance being added to their rises. Continue reading...

Australia defeat All Whites 3-1 to retain ‘Soccer Ashes’ as Mohamed Toure hits a brace while Chris Wood breaks home side’s drought in Auckland

Western United will not play in the A-League in 2025-26 following a decision by league administrators the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) to place the crisis-stricken club's men's and women's si...

With focus turning to the World Cup and a young and exciting side called up to face New Zealand, Tony Popovic wants his side to be on the ball both on and off the field during the Soccer Ashes.

Alessandro Circati has revealed that Italy legend Gianluigi Buffon played a key role in helping him choose to play for Australia over the Azzurri.