Auckland FC

Auckland FC is a professional football club based in Auckland, New Zealand, and the first New Zealand-based club to compete in the A-League Men. Founded as an expansion franchise, Auckland FC debuted in the 2024-25 A-League season and immediately made history by winning the Premiership, finishing top of the regular-season table in their inaugural campaign. The club plays its home matches at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart, which holds 25,000 spectators. Japanese international Hiroki Sakai, a veteran of Marseille and Hannover 96, was named the club's inaugural captain and provided crucial leadership throughout the historic first season. The squad blends experienced internationals with emerging New Zealand talent, including midfielder Louis Verstraete, striker Sam Cosgrove, and defenders Francis DeVries and Nando Pijnaker. Auckland FC also competes in the OFC Pro League, making it a unique dual-competition club. The club's success has energized New Zealand football and created a new trans-Tasman rivalry in the A-League, bringing professional football to the country's largest city on a sustained basis for the first time.