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Live sport on SN this weekendAuckland FC Bible: Everything you need to know for 2026/27 season
Henry Lee • October 15th, 2026 6:00 pm
Auckland FC lift the A-League trophy as 2026 champions | Photo: Photosport
With Auckland FC's first A-League title in the rearview mirror, it's time to look ahead to a new era for the Black Knights.
Bill Foley's Auckland franchise head into the 2026/27 campaign with a new Portuguese head coach, Pedro Moreira, replacing the highly experienced and three-time A-League championship-winning manager Steve Corica.
Corica took assistant coach Danny Hay and lead analyst Doug Kors with him to Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos, leaving director of football Terry McFlynn, CEO Nick Becker, and owner Bill Foley to appoint a largely new and refreshed coaching group.
Pedro Moreira | Photo: Photosport
In comes OFC Pro League head coach Luke Casserly as Moreira's right-hand man, while Moreira has brought in Danny Milosevic to lead the club's Goalkeeping unit and Rafael Moreira (no relation) as the club's lead analyst.
The new coaching staff will lead a revamped group of players missing key parts of their first two seasons, but the club have also retained several key players while adding one of the best midfielders in the A-League.
Go Media Stadium Mt Smart in Auckland will host a number of family-friendly 5pm kick-offs in the upcoming season, starting this Saturday against long-time A-League powerhouse Melbourne City.
Here's all you need to know ahead of the new season.
2026/27 Squad
1. Michael Woud, 2. Hiroki Sakai, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 7. Cameron Howieson, 8. Felipe Gallegos, 9. Sam Cosgrove, 10. Lachlan Bayliss, 15. Francis de Vries, 16. Daniel Normann, 17. Callan Elliot, 18. Marley Leuluai, 19. Oliver Middleton, 20. Oliver Sail, 21. Isa Prins, 22. Jake Brimmer, 23. Ronan Wynne, 24. Aaron Cartwright, 27. Logan Rogerson, 28. Aaron Calver, 30. Joseph Knowles, 35. Jonty Bidois, 50. Eli Jones, 52. Luka Vicelich, 57. Van Fitzharris, 77. Lachlan Brook.
Predicted Lineup
- Formation: 4-3-3.
- GK: Michael Woud.
- Defence: Hiroki Sakai, Luka Vicelich Nando Pijnaker, Francis De Vries.
- Midfield: Jake Brimmer, Felipe Gallegos, Lachlan Bayliss.
- Attack: Logan Rogerson, Sam Cosgrove, Lachlan Brook.
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Key Questions
Can Auckland FC go back-to-back?
It's often talked about as the hardest thing to do in sports as a team. Can they? 100 per cent, they can, but doing it is a whole other question. If you look at last year's run to the title, Auckland FC had the A-League title experience through Steve Corica, Terry McFlynn, Dan Hall, and Jake Brimmer.
They were never overawed by the occasion, and had the talent and depth in squad to grind out results. In 2027, they simply don't have that luxury. Hall and Jake Girdwood-Reich formed a strong connection at the back, and Louis Verstrate was the best, if not close to the best player in the A-League. Losing that trio, plus Guillermo May, Jesse Randall, and Liam Gillion, has hurt their attacking prospects.
All Whites midfielder Lachlan Bayliss is a huge addition, but the Black Knights will need some incredible injury luck, and some Pedro Moreira Portuguese magic to be in another championship shootout.
Who needs to step up?
Simply put - Jake Brimmer. The former Johnny Warren medalist must provide the value lost by Verstrate in midfield.
An in-form Brimmer will be gold to the Black Knights. It will seem like a new signing for Auckland, who have got limited impact from one of their highest-paid players so far.
Logan Rogerson, who proved to be a pivotal player in their inaugural season, will need a huge campaign on either flank after the loss of Randall and Gillion. And Sam Cosgrove, yes, he's eligible to play from the start despite a straight red card in Auckland FC's FIFA Intercontinental playoff against Al-Ahli.
If Cosgrove can adapt to a new keep-the-ball style of play that Moreira will employ, a ten-goal+ season for the big English No. 9 is crucial.
Photo: Masanori Udagawa/AAP
Which players are set for a breakthrough season?
Isa Prins and Marley Leuluai will be familiar to many Kiwis, but if you're not, these two will surprise everyone this season. Prins, out of Wellington Olympic, is a dynamic, electric winger of the Randall ilk, set to make his mark on the league, eventually.
Leuluai, a former New Zealand U17 captain, is out of the Manchester City academy and returns to New Zealand after a stint with Burnley. Leuluai, son of former Kiwis league player Kylie, made a memorable introduction to The Port at Eden Park against Tottenham Hotspur, crunching Brazilian striker Richarlison.
Keep an eye out for Daniel Norman, too, after impressing in last season's OFC Pro League campaign.
How will Pedro Moreira adapt to the A-League?
The Million Dollar Question. Coming from a Portuguese youth football background, and having worked at AS Roma, Porto, and Shakhtar Donetsk, Moreira isn't short of European pedigree, but the A-League is a different proposition.
In the A-League, pretty, attacking, free-flowing football doesn't always equal wins, and Moreira inherits an Auckland FC squad built by Corica, McFlynn, and Danny Hay to grind out games on the counter-attack and with less than 50 per cent possession. If the new Auckland FC head coach can mix his gameplan with a hard-edged, physical style the premiers became so accustomed too, they will remain a force in the upcoming season.
The new Auckland FC head coach spoke with Sport Nation last week, assuring fans that the expectation won't burden the team as they look to start the season on the front foot.
"I can share with you easily; it's not a problem for everyone because it's on the starts. They started very well both seasons in the two years and probably were one of the main reasons that they were fighting for something during the season. So we will try to do it also during this year.
"My main idea is really that you can win games with the attack, but you must win championships with the defence," the Auckland FC head coach said.
"Because if you have clean sheets, you have one point guarantee all the games. It is an important idea that we can put in. We are working, and we can manage the way that we attack and the way we defend.
Harry Ngata on Auckland FC's community and club connection | Studs Up! podcast
What will have to improve?
Auckland FC's ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck, dominate teams from minute one, and stop the opposition having possession. They did this for a derby or two, yes, but Auckland FC's game style under Corica was a behind-the-ball, defensive, mid block.
They pressed aggressively through midfield and asked a lot of their wide midfielders and strikers, but it wasn't an "attacking, ball-dominant style". Corica's style worked, and full credit to the players and the coaching staff, but the upcoming season will be different.
Bayliss’ introduction should help the midfield retain possession more effectively, but the broader stylistic changes will largely depend on the coaching staff. The public will want an entertaining style of play that invites players to express themselves in attack, be physical on defence, and play teams off the park from the opening whistle.
But it's a challenging league, and that goal will be a lot easier said than done.
Will Auckland FC finally lose to the Wellington Phoenix?
No. But the Phoenix will go very close.
The Phoenix have failed on six occasions against Auckland FC, and have hardly looked likely, but that could change in 2026/27.
I believe Chris Greenacre's men will earn a point in one of the three New Zealand derbies. Some will say 'no shot', but this isn't the Auckland FC team of the past two years, and it will be Moreira's first taste of this new rivalry.
Greenacre is preaching a more physical and harder-working game plan this season, which will give the team from the capital a sniff, but there has to be a mental block there.
Don't be surprised if the three installments of this relatively new, but passionate, derby in 2026/27 are closer than the previous six encounters.
Lachlan Bayliss | Photo: Auckland FC
What have the players said?
Striker Sam Cosgrove said on Thursday that the squad isn't short of belief.
"It's a fresh start, we've lost some important players, we won't beat around the bush, but we've also brought in real good quality. I think we've managed to keep that core group of players together.
"We've still got winners in the squad. We've brought the likes of Lachlan Bayliss, who obviously won the premier's plate last year with Newcastle, Aaron Calver, who's had A-League success, and then we've obviously promoted from within with likes of Ronan Wynne, Luke Casserly, Daniel Norman, who won the Pro League last year.
"We've got plenty of winners still within that squad so that mentality is not going to change at all for us.
New signing, Bayliss, expressed his excitement to make his first appearance for Auckland FC.
"I'm very excited to play my first game in front of The Port. I think it'll be just a great experience. There's a big turnout expected," Bayliss told Sport Nation.
"I know the camp's buzzing and just can't wait for the season to get underway.
Sam Cosgrove's early goal set the tone for Auckland's win over Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium | Dave Hunt/AAP
2026/27 Predictions
Auckland FC regular season: 4th
Auckland FC post-season outcome: Semi-Final defeat
Auckland FC player of the season: Lachlan Bayliss
Auckland FC top goalscorer: Sam Cosgrove
Top Goalscorer: Sam Cosgrove - $6
Premiership winner: Sydney FC - $5.50
Top 6: Western Sydney Wanderers - $2.50
Wooden Spoon: Perth Glory - $4
All betcha odds are current at the time of publishing - R18, please gamble responsibly.
Auckland FC Logan Rogerson battles it out with Wellington Phoenix captain Alex Rufer | Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
Auckland FC fixtures for 2026/27 A-League Men
October 2026
- Saturday, October 17: Melbourne City FC (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, October 24: Western Sydney Wanderers (away) – 7:00pm
- Friday, October 30: Brisbane Roar (away) – 10:00pm
November 2026
- Saturday, November 7: Wellington Phoenix (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, November 21: Melbourne Victory (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, November 28: Central Coast Mariners (away) – 9:40pm
December 2026
- Saturday, December 12: Sydney FC (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, December 19: Wellington Phoenix (away) – 5:00pm
- Sunday, December 27: Melbourne City FC (away) – 8:00pm
January 2027
- Friday, January 1: Adelaide United (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, January 9: Newcastle Jets (away) – 7:00pm
- Friday, January 15: Melbourne Victory (away) – 9:40pm
- Sunday, January 24: Perth Glory (home) – 3:00pmSunday, January 31: Brisbane Roar (home) – 3:00pm
February 2027
- Saturday, February 6: Macarthur FC (away) – 7:00pm
- Saturday, February 13: Wellington Phoenix (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, February 27: Sydney FC (away) – 7:00pm
March 2027
- Sunday, March 7: Central Coast Mariners (home) – 3:00pm
- Saturday, March 13: Newcastle Jets (home) – 5:00pm
- Saturday, March 20: Western Sydney Wanderers (away) – 7:00pm
April 2027
- Sunday, April 4: Macarthur FC (home) – 3:00pm
- Saturday, April 10: Perth Glory (away) – 11:45pm
- Sunday, April 18: Brisbane Roar (home) – 3:00pm
- Friday, April 23: Sydney FC (away) – 9:40pm
May 2027
- Saturday, May 1: Adelaide United (away) – 7:00pm
- Saturday, May 8: Western Sydney Wanderers (home) – 5:00pm
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All betcha odds are current at the time of publishing - R18, please gamble responsibly.
