Expansion team Canberra United’s entry to men’s A-League delayed until 2025/26 season

The consortium behind the new Canberra men’s A-League team have been advised that their entry to the competition will not now happen until the 2025/26 season.

With Auckland FC and Canberra United having previously been advised that they would join the competition for the 2024/25 season, the group behind the Canberra expansion bid have now been told that their entry to the League will have to wait a year.

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) revealed in March last year that Canberra was one of two preferred markets for expansion from 12 to 14 men’s teams ahead of the 2024-25 season.

However, as reported by Guardian Australia, A-Leagues Commissioner Nick Garcia is backing the Canberra team to join as the 14th men’s team for the 2025/26 campaign.

In a statement, Garcia advised “we are still in discussion with a preferred consortium for an A-League licence in Canberra, but they aren’t able to stand up a team in time for season 2024/25.

“The ACT has a fantastic football fanbase, and we remain committed to Canberra and a 14th A-League team. We want to give new owners the proper runway to set up a team to ensure long-term success.

“The preferred consortium has the right capability - a mix of European top-flight experience, and local Canberra knowledge and relationships - and we continue to work with them.”

Guardian Australia reported that the APL had hoped to raise $100 million in franchise fees - $25 million per club - from Canberra, Auckland and two other sides by the start of the 2025/26 season. The ongoing delay in Canberra means that Auckland FC will be the only club to join the A-League Men later this year, as the competition moves to 13 teams. This will create a bye – rather than adding an extra match as hoped – in each round.

Canberra has not fielded a top-tier men’s team since Canberra Cosmos folded in 2001, while the Socceroos only returned to the nation’s capital for the first time since 2019 when they played a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lebanon in March.

Garcia also confirmed that Capital Football will remain in charge of A-League Women team Canberra United for the 2024/25 season.

Canberra United’s place in the women’s competition for the coming season was only assured following a ‘one-off’ contribution of $200,000 from the ACT Government, as revealed in April, in addition to annual funding of $250,000.

Capital Football is the only football association to own a licence and operate an A-League team.