‘Important step for professional game’: A-League set for four new teams as expansion plans revealed

Canberra and Auckland are set to join the A-League in the 2024-25 season, while another team from south-east Queensland is expected to be one of two more sides added a year later.

Come the 2025-26 A-League season, the A-League men’s competition is set to comprise of 16 teams, while the women’s competition will also expand.

Australian Professional Leagues chief executive officer Danny Townsend has confirmed clubs from Canberra and Auckland will make their debuts in the 2024-25 campaign.

Townsend also said several markets were being considered for the two more licences set to be awarded for he 2025-26 season and beyond.

And while he would not discuss the locations of the 15th and 16th teams, one is almost certain to be based in either Brisbane or the Gold Coast.

Other expansion candidates are understood to include Wollongong, Adelaide, Perth and Tasmania.

“We’ve got a very clear growth strategy … and part of that is bringing more football to more communities,” Townsend said.

“We’re focused on building really strong sustainable clubs into the future, and we definitely think Canberra and Auckland fit that bill.

“We’ve got under-served markets as the priority in this round.

“Next round … we’re certainly looking at derbies (as a reason for expansion).”

Townsend said that Football Australia, which has the power to knock expansion plans on the head, had “to date been really support and understand why it’s an important step for the professional game”.

He also said that having chosen the areas for expansion clubs, the APL would now find owners – both local and international – for the teams.

“Our priority here is having two new clubs come in (for the 2024-25 season) … and hit the ground running,” Townsend said.

The expansion plans come hot on the heels of FA receiving 32 expressions of interest for a national second division mooted to start next year.