Optus Sport expands with acquisition of German Cups

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DFB-Pokal
Image provided by Optus Sport

Optus Sport has continued the expansion of its football coverage after securing the exclusive Australian rights to the DFB-Pokal and DFB-Pokal Frauen for the next three seasons.

The DFB-Pokal is Germany’s biggest and most prestigious cup competition, held annually by the German Football Association (DFB) and running from August through to June. 64 teams participate in the German Cup, including all clubs from the Bundesliga.

The likes of Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig will be available for football fans to watch, bringing with them superstars like Sadio Mane, Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Matthijs de Ligt, Joshua Kimmich, Marco Reus, Jude Bellingham, Christopher Nkunku and Dani Olmo.

Optus Sport has also secured the rights for the Women’s German Cup, DFB-Pokal Frauen, which is the main national women’s football cup competition and includes some of the women’s game’s top sides, led by eight-time defending champs VfL Wolfsburg and nine-time winners Eintracht Frankfurt. The competition was established in its current format in 1991, has 49 teams and runs alongside the men’s competition through to May.

“We know our football fans will be happy with the addition of the DFB-Pokal and DFB-Pokal Frauen, as Optus Sport continues to deliver the world’s best football to our customers,” Optus VP TV, Content and Product Development, Clive Dickens, said in a statement.

Dr. Holger Blask, Managing Director of the DFB GmbH & Co. KG, said via press release:

“We have seen the continued growth of Optus Sport and its world-class approach to streaming top-class football. Germany’s premium Club Cup competitions will definitely be in good hands and Optus Sport will reliably provide Australia’s fans of German football with the best live matches, in-depth analysis and insightful support programs around the DFB Cup.

“We are very excited about this multi-year agreement covering both the men’s and women’s competitions, a fact we are particularly proud of and one that will take the DFB Cup to a new level in Australia.”

Optus Sport has recently added LaLiga from this season and holds the Australian rights to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, the J.League and UEFA National football including the UEFA Nations League, all UEFA EURO 2024 qualifiers, all UEFA European qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, plus a range of international friendlies, all available to Optus Sport subscribers.

The DFB-Pokal Frauen gets underway first on Optus Sport, with Ingolstadt taking on Bayern Munich on Wednesday (September 13 AEST) morning. This will come off the back of a massive weekend of women’s football as the FA Women’s Super League 2022/23 season commences on Saturday September 10.

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Central Coast Mariners Women secure future under Holman Barnes Group

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Image Credits: Central Coast Mariners

The future of the Central Coast Mariners Women has been secured after the Holman Barnes Group (HBG) reached an agreement to become the new operator of the club’s A-League Women program. The deal ends uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation in the 2026/27 season.

The agreement between HBG, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Total Soccer Growth Holdings (TSG) ensures the Mariners will remain in the Ninja A-League Women competition. It also introduces a new operating model designed to provide long-term stability.

The uncertainty emerged following TSG’s acquisition of the Central Coast Mariners’ men’s side and academy in June. The women’s program was excluded from the original takeover. TSG already owns English football side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) and MLS club Los Angeles FC. The omission placed the future of the 2025 A-League Women champions in doubt. It also prompted the APL to seek a sustainable solution ahead of the new campaign.

A new operating model

Under the new arrangement, HBG will oversee all operational aspects of the women’s team. This includes the football program, staffing and day-to-day management. TSG will retain the club licence and continue overseeing the men’s program and academy. It will also support the women’s operation through its broader football network.

The agreement represents an innovative partnership between the three organisations. It has been designed to strengthen the long-term sustainability of professional women’s football on the Central Coast. HBG’s plans extend beyond the senior team. They include a strong focus on developing participation pathways and creating greater opportunities for female footballers throughout New South Wales.

Attention turns to the new season

The transition comes at a crucial time with preparations for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League Women season underway ahead of its October 16 start. The new operators are expected to begin managing the program immediately. This remains subject to the completion of the remaining regulatory processes. The team currently has no sponsors and games are expected to be moved away from Central Coast Stadium.

The A-League had previously set a July 31 deadline for new owners to be found to secure a place in the upcoming competition. With that now achieved, HBG will be on the clock to ensure the season begins without disruption and becomes a commercial success.

For the Central Coast Mariners Women, the agreement delivers certainty after a turbulent off-season. It also allows the club to shift its attention to the 2026/27 campaign and the team’s on-field performance.

South Melbourne’s Australia Cup triumph reignites promotion and relegation debate

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Image Credit: The Greek Herald

South Melbourne FC’s dramatic 2-1 victory over Adelaide United in the Hahn Australia Cup Round of 32 has reignited debate around promotion and relegation in Australian football, with Co-President Bill Papastergiadis stating the result is further proof that ambitious National Premier Leagues clubs deserve a pathway to the top tier.

The Victorian powerhouse produced one of the competition’s biggest upsets at Lakeside Stadium, overturning an early deficit to eliminate the Isuzu UTE A-League side and secure a place in the Round of 16.

While the result was celebrated as another example of the magic of the Australia Cup, Papastergiadis believes the victory carries a much broader message about the strength that exists outside Australia’s professional league.

Speaking following the win, Papastergiadis said South Melbourne’s performance demonstrated why the Australian football landscape should move towards a connected pyramid featuring promotion and relegation.

“The result was South Melbourne FC’s revenge 22 years in the making,” Papastergiadis said.

“It also demonstrates that clubs in the National Premier Leagues have the quality, professionalism and ambition to compete with A-League opposition when given the opportunity.”

For years, South Melbourne has been one of the strongest advocates for structural reform within Australian football, consistently calling for an open pyramid that rewards sporting merit rather than maintaining a closed league system.

Papastergiadis argued that Australia Cup fixtures continue to showcase the depth of talent throughout the domestic game, with NPL clubs regularly proving they can challenge and defeat professional opponents despite operating with significantly fewer resources.

He believes these performances should not simply be viewed as isolated “cupsets”, but as evidence that Australia’s football ecosystem is ready to embrace a promotion and relegation model that provides ambitious clubs with a genuine pathway to the top flight.

The result against Adelaide United adds another significant chapter to South Melbourne’s storied history. One of Australia’s most successful clubs, South Melbourne has long maintained aspirations of returning to the national stage, backed by a passionate supporter base, strong infrastructure and a proud footballing tradition.

For Papastergiadis, victories such as Thursday night’s reinforce the argument that clubs should earn opportunities through performances on the pitch.

“The Australia Cup continues to show what’s possible when clubs from different levels of the football pyramid compete against one another,” he said.

“Our football should be built on opportunity and merit. Clubs that perform consistently and invest in their communities should have the chance to progress to the highest level.”

South Melbourne will now turn its attention to the Round of 16, where it will look to continue its impressive cup run.

Beyond the result itself, however, the victory has once again fuelled discussion around the future of Australia’s football structure and whether the growing strength of clubs outside the A-League should accelerate the push towards a fully connected national competition.

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