Australian soccer league system

Australian soccer league system
	A map showing the nine member federations of Football Australia, which each control their respective state leagues.
Country	Australia
Sport	Association football
Promotion and relegation	No
National system
Federation	Football Australia
Confederation	Asian Football Confederation
Top division	A-League Men; A-League Women; ;
Second division	Australian Championship; National Premier Leagues Women's; ;
Cup competition	Australia Cup; ;
Regional systems
Federations	Capital Football; Football NSW; Northern NSW Football; Football Northern Territory; Football Queensland; Football South Australia; Football Tasmania; Football Victoria; Football West; ;
	Association football in Australia

The Australian soccer league system represents the structure of soccer leagues in Australia.^[1] Both the men's and women's structures run on a straight tiered system without promotion and relegation between its national tiers, but is contained between state tiers.^[2]^[3]^[4]

The introduction of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) in 2013 introduced a direct second tier of soccer in Australia, underpinning the A-League.^[5] The NPL incorporated the existing state leagues as divisions with a nationwide end of season finals series, rebranding five of the nine top state leagues.^[6] The remainder – with the exception of the Northern Territory – joined in 2014.^[6] In 2025, the first national second tier was introduced; the Australian Championship.

Men's system

Level	Total clubs	League(s) / division(s)
1	12	A-League Men 12 clubs (2 from New Zealand)
2	16	Australian Championship 16 clubs – 4 groups
3	99	National Premier Leagues Men's 99 clubs – 8 divisions

The system is only defined as far as level 3. What follows is a notional structure, based on which leagues promote and relegate to each other and the connection of Football Australia's associated bodies.

Level	Total clubs	League(s) / division(s)
3	111	National Premier Leagues Capital Football Men's – 11 clubs — 0p, 0r National Premier Leagues Northern NSW Men's – 12 clubs — 0p, 1.5r National Premier Leagues NSW Men's – 16 clubs — 0p, 1.5r National Premier Leagues Queensland Men's – 12 clubs — 0p, 2r National Premier Leagues South Australia – 12 clubs — 0p, 2r National Premier Leagues Tasmania – 10 clubs — 0p, 0r National Premier Leagues Victoria Men's – 14 clubs — 0p, 3r National Premier Leagues Western Australia Men's – 12 clubs — 0p, 1.5r NorZone Premier League – 8 clubs — 0r Southern Zone Premier League – 4 clubs — 0r
4	106	Capital State League Division 1 – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r Northern League One – 10 clubs — 1.5p, 1r Football NSW League One – 16 clubs — 1.5p, 1.5r Football Queensland Premier League 1 – 12 clubs — 2r, 2r State League 1 South Australia – 12 clubs – 2p, 2r Northern Championship – 8 clubs – 0p, 0r Southern Championship – 8 clubs – 0p, 0r Victorian Premier League 1 – 14 clubs – 3p, 3r Football West State League Division 1 – 12 clubs – 1.75p, 1.5r
5	99	Capital State League Division 2 – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r Zone Football League One – 12 clubs — 1p, 1r Regional Leagues – 7 districts — 0p Football NSW League Two – 16 clubs — 1.5p, 0r Football Queensland Premier League 2 – 12 clubs — 2r, 2r State League 2 South Australia North – 10 clubs – 1p, 0r State League 2 South Australia South – 10 clubs – 1p, 0r Northern Social League 1 – 6 clubs – 0p, 0r Southern Social League 1/2 – 11 clubs – 0p, 0r Victorian Premier League 2 – 14 clubs – 3p, 2.5r Football West State League Division 2 – 12 clubs – 1.5p, 1r
6	48	Capital State League Division 3 – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r Zone Football League Two – 10 clubs — 1p, 1r Regional Leagues – 19 districts — 0p Regional Leagues – 9 districts — 2p Regional Leagues – 6 districts – 0p Northern Social League 2 – 6 clubs – 0p, 0r Southern Social League 3 – 10 clubs – 0p, 0r Victorian State League 1 North-West – 12 clubs – 1.5p, 2r Victorian State League 1 South-East – 12 clubs – 1.5p, 2r Regional Leagues – 12 districts – 1p
7	42	Capital State League Division 4 – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r Zone Football League Three – 10 clubs — 1p, 0r Southern Social League 4 – 10 clubs – 0p, 0r Victorian State League 2 North-West – 12 clubs – 2p, 4r Victorian State League 2 South-East – 12 clubs – 2p, 4r
8	32	Capital State League Division 5 – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r Victorian State League 3 North-West – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r Victorian State League 3 South-East – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r
9	33	Capital State League Division 6 – 9 clubs — 0p, 0r Victorian State League 4 North-West – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r Victorian State League 4 South-East – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r
10	36	Capital State League Division 7 – 12 clubs — 0p, 0r Victorian State League 5 North-West – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r Victorian State League 5 South-East – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r
11	36	Capital State League Division 8 – 12 clubs — 0p, 0r Victorian State League 6 North-West – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r Victorian State League 6 South-East – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r
12	33	Capital State League Division 9 – 9 clubs — 0p, 0r Victorian State League 7 North-West – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r Victorian State League 7 South-East – 12 clubs – 4p, 4r
13	20	Capital State League Division 10 Blue – 10 clubs — 0p, 0r Capital State League Division 10 Gold – 10 clubs — 0p, 0r Victorian Metropolitan Leagues – 9 divisions – 0p Victorian Regional Leagues – 15 districts – 0p

Women's system

The women's soccer league system in Australia is similar to that of the men's.^[7]^[8]

Level	Total clubs	League(s) / division(s)
1	11	A-League Women 11 clubs (1 from New Zealand)
2	91	National Premier Leagues Women's 91 clubs – 8 divisions

The system is only defined as far as level 2. What follows is a notional structure, based on which leagues promote and relegate to each other and the connection of Football Australia's associated bodies.

Level	Total clubs	League(s) / division(s)
2	96	NPL Women's Capital Football – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r NPL Women's Northern NSW – 7 clubs — 0p, 1r NPL Women's NSW – 14 clubs — 0p, 1.5r NPL Women's Queensland – 16 clubs — 0p, 2r NPL Women's South Australia – 12 clubs — 0p, 2r NPL Women's Tasmania – 8 clubs — 0p, 0r NPL Women's Victoria – 14 clubs — 0p, 2r NPL Women's Western Australia – 12 clubs — 0p, 1.5r NorZone Women's Premier League – 5 clubs — 0r
3	52	Capital League Women's Division 1 – 6 clubs — 0p, 0r NSW League One Women's – 14 clubs — 1.5p, 0r Football Queensland Premier League 1 – 12 clubs — 2r, 2.5r Women's State League South Australia – 12 clubs — 2p, 0r Victorian Premier League Women – 8 clubs — 2p, 4r
4	41	Capital League Women's Division 2 – 9 clubs — 0p, 0r Football Queensland Premier League 2 – 12 clubs — 2.5r, 2r Victorian State League Women 1 North-West – 10 clubs — 2p, 2r Victorian State League Women 1 South-West – 10 clubs — 2p, 2r
5	14	Capital League Women's Division 3 – 14 clubs — 0p, 0r
6	10	Capital League Women's Division 4 – 10 clubs — 0p, 0r
7	12	Capital League Women's Division 5 – 12 clubs — 0p, 0r
8	11	Capital League Women's Division 6 – 11 clubs — 0p, 0r

Notes

↑ There is no promotion and relegation between national tiers, but there are between state tiers.

References

↑ Robinson, Andrew. "Complete final season tables". elitetograssroots.net. Archived from the original on 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
↑ Lynch, Joey (29 November 2023). "Australia's football pyramid is one step closer to reality. Now what?". ESPN Australia. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
↑ Monteverde, Marco (6 November 2023). "Football Australia confirms second division details...with a catch". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
↑ "2024 NPL/League 1 Men's Promotion and Relegation Playoff details Announced". Football NSW. 26 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
↑ Gorman, Joe (9 December 2013). "Why the NPL matters for Australian football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
1 2 "National Premier Leagues". Football Australia. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
↑ "The Women's Season is about to start! Here's everything you need to know". Football SA. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
↑ "Women's & Men's Promotion, Relegation & Play-Offs for the 2024 Season". Football Victoria. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 October 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

External links

[1] There is no promotion and relegation between national tiers, but there are between state tiers.

[2] Robinson, Andrew. "Complete final season tables". elitetograssroots.net. Archived from the original on 22 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.

[3] Lynch, Joey (29 November 2023). "Australia's football pyramid is one step closer to reality. Now what?". ESPN Australia. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2025.

[4] Monteverde, Marco (6 November 2023). "Football Australia confirms second division details...with a catch". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on 12 February 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

[5] "2024 NPL/League 1 Men's Promotion and Relegation Playoff details Announced". Football NSW. 26 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

[6] Gorman, Joe (9 December 2013). "Why the NPL matters for Australian football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.

[NPL-7] 1 2 "National Premier Leagues". Football Australia. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.

[8] "The Women's Season is about to start! Here's everything you need to know". Football SA. 14 March 2024. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

[9] "Women's & Men's Promotion, Relegation & Play-Offs for the 2024 Season". Football Victoria. 14 May 2024. Archived from the original on 25 October 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2025.

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Men's system

Women's system

See also

Notes

References

External links