Auckland-based team confirmed to join A-Leagues for 2024/25 season

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Auckland A-Leagues team
Image credit: New Zealand Football

The A-Leagues have announced that New Zealand will have its second team in the competition with an Auckland-based side to join Wellington Phoenix for the 2024/25 season.

The newly established club will enter the A-League Men’s competition next October and begin life in the A-League Women a year later, for the 2025-26 competition.

The new team is still lacking other parts of club DNA like colours, a badge, a kit, a training facility and home stadium which would have to be decided in the near future.

Australian Professional Leagues (APL) said that there was a decision made by senior football executives to award American billionaire businessman Bill Foley a club licence to form the new franchise.

Foley is a 78-year-old insurance and financial services magnate who has had a recent history of dabbling into the sports ownership world.

In 2016, Foley was awarded a similar expansion licence to create the Vegas Golden Knights in the NHL, with the team winning the Stanley Cup last season just seven years after establishment.

Recently, Foley has focused on football, with ownership and eventually assuming the role of chairman for AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League as well as acquiring a minority stake in French Ligue 1 club FC Lorient where he has created a partnership between the two clubs.

This expansion has the ability to connect the new Auckland-based team to those two clubs, creating a simple pathway for quality loan players or transfers.

Foley discussed the potential and excitement this new team can bring to football in New Zealand.

“Building a championship team from expansion has been my most exhilarating professional achievement, and I aim to do the same for the fans of New Zealand and particularly the community on the North Island,” he said in a personal statement.

“It’s an honour to bring a top football club to Auckland. It’s a special place and an area that I know will embrace this team.”

Stephen Conroy, APL Chair, mentioned that the ownership of the club is in good hands.

“In Bill Foley we have a proven global sports investor and operator with a track record of building deep roots in the community, a passion for football, and a long-standing business and personal relationship with New Zealand,” Conroy added in a statement.

“We are delighted to welcome Bill and his team to the A-Leagues and look forward to seeing the club in action next year.”

APL said that Football Australia and New Zealand Football will now seek final approval from FIFA and the AFC federation to confirm this move.

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Borussia Dortmund & Vodafone launch ‘Fan Mode’ to keep supporter attention on the pitch

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Borussia Dortmund have launched ‘Fan Mode’, a new initiative aimed to incentivise supporters to put their phones away and live in the moment while supporting their side at home matches.

Dortmund have paired with club sponsor Vodafone, with the program in use from Saturday’s 1-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Under the initiative, fans can activate ‘Fan Mode’ within the Borussia Dortmund app – in a manner similar to flight mode – before locking their phone as the action kicks off. From there, time spent inactive on their phone during play equates to points, which in turn sees fans in the running for prizes – including autographed jerseys and fan shop gift cards.

‘With Vodaphone, we have a partner who not only understands what technology is capable of, but also when it should take a back seat,’ said Dortmund CEO Carsten Cramer.

‘Here, a global technology company is specifically using its innovative strength to protect the experience that no technology can replace.

‘Fan Mode sends a powerful message. Over 81,000 people in the stadium, singing, cheering, and holding their breath together: this here and now is irreplaceable.’

The move comes following a 2023 survey conducted by Vodafone themselves, which showed 63 percent of general football fans regularly use their smartphones during matches but simultaneously, listed an increase in social media, selfies and streaming at the football as an annoyance.

‘Anyone at a soccer game should experience the moment and the emotions – not just a cell phone screen,’ said Marcel de Groot, CEO of Vodafone Germany.

‘Let’s leave our smartphones in our pockets more often at the stadium and instead focus on what’s happening on the field and in the stands.’

Partaking in the initiative is completely voluntary, as is the claiming of any points or prizes.

Dortmund, managed by Niko Kovac and currently second on the Bundesliga table, led the Bundesliga’s average attendance for season 2025/26 with just under 80,000.

Their ‘Yellow Wall’ – the supporters in the Südtribüne, or South End of Westfalenstadion (known commercially as Signal Iduna Park) – are widely considered among one of the iconic sights of global football fandom.

Australian Government opens opportunity for local club funding with Stronger Communities grant

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Image Credit: National Indigenous Times

The Australian Government’s Stronger Communities Program offers an opportunity to strengthen the infrastructure of local community football clubs through its newest grant.

The program supports projects that deliver social benefits and help communities become more connected.

For eligible football organisations, the funding could help improve facilities, remove barriers to participation and create better experiences for players, volunteers and families.

What Funding Is Available?

The program offers grants between $2,500 and $20,000 for eligible infrastructure projects. Each of the 150 federal electorates has $150,000 available to support local projects. The program focuses on small capital projects rather than general operating expenses.

If they’re to apply, football clubs should identify a specific infrastructure need and explain how addressing it will benefit their wider community.

Project applications should include how funding will improve accessible club facilities, upgrade community infrastructure or purchase eligible equipment and assets that support participation.

Clubs must check the official guidelines to confirm that their proposed activities and costs qualify. A strong proposal should explain what the project will deliver, who will benefit and how it will encourage greater community involvement.

How Can Football Clubs Benefit?

Infrastructure can make a real difference to a club’s ability to welcome new participants. Better facilities can improve the experience for junior players, families, volunteers and spectators. Accessible amenities can help people with disability participate more comfortably. Upgraded shared spaces can also create better opportunities for community activities.

Clubs should consider the barriers that prevent people from getting involved. These might include inaccessible facilities, limited community infrastructure or equipment shortages that restrict participation.

A successful project should address a clear local need. It should also demonstrate benefits beyond a single team or a small group of players.

Football clubs can strengthen their proposals by gathering feedback from players, parents, coaches, volunteers and other community members. This evidence helps show why the project matters and how it will improve participation.

Who Can Apply?

Applicants must have an Australian Business Number and be invited to apply from their local Federal Member of Parliament. Federal MPs must identify potential projects in their electorates and nominate suitable proposals for consideration. Clubs should therefore contact their local MP to discuss their infrastructure needs and express their interest in the program.

Grants can cover up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs for most eligible applicants; however, local governing bodies face a different requirement. They must contribute at least 50 per cent of eligible project costs through matched funding.

Clubs should prepare a realistic project budget and identify eligible expenses before submitting a proposal. Supplier quotes, project plans and supporting evidence can help demonstrate that the project is achievable and offers value for money. Applicants must also meet the program’s project requirements and completion deadline of 31 March 2028.

Know the Key Dates

‘Round 10’ opened on 21 September 2026. Federal MP nominations close at 5pm AEDT on 30 November 2026. Invited applicants must submit their applications by 5pm AEDT on 19 January 2027.

Clubs should act early by contacting their local MP and preparing its application. The Stronger Communities Program gives eligible football organisations a potential pathway to improve local infrastructure and strengthen community participation. Clubs should start by identifying a project with clear benefits, consulting their community and reviewing the official guidelines.

For grassroots football, better infrastructure can mean more inclusive facilities, stronger community connections and more opportunities for people to get involved. Read the official program details here.

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