How to watch 2026 Australian Championship LIVE on SBS

SBS On Demand is the place to watch all matches of the Australian Championship LIVE and FREE across SBS, SBS2 and SBS On Demand.

• What is the Australian Championship?
• Which teams are confirmed for the 2026 Australian Championship?
• What is Thursday Night Football?
• What are the new penalty shootout rules?
• Is this separate to A-League Men?
• What if I can't watch games live?
• How do I create an account for SBS On Demand?
• Where is the schedule for this season?

What is the Australian Championship?

Eight foundation clubs and eight NPL premiers from across the country will take part in the second edition of the Australian Championship - a tournament-style format where four groups of four teams will see the top two from each progress to a sudden-death finals series, with the Australian Championship trophy the grand prize.

Which teams are confirmed for the 2026 Australian Championship?

Football Australia has confirmed all the 16 teams participating in this years Australian Championship, with the clubs coming from seven states and territories to content the second edition of the competition.

Group A

South Melbourne FC

Sydney United 58

Canberra Croatia

Sutherland Sharks FC

Group B

Wests APIA FC

Avondale FC

Adelaide City FC

Broadmeadow Magic FC

Group C

Marconi Stallions FC

Sydney Olympic FC

Oakleigh Cannons FC

Bayswater City FC

Group D

Preston Lions FC

Wollongong Wolves

South Hobart FC

Lions FC

Thursday Night Football headlines new changes

Thursday night free-to-air football will underpin the second edition of the Australian Championship, kicking off on October 15 and featuring some of Australia's oldest football clubs.

The Finals Series commences on November 26 with the Quarter Finals, with the season set to conclude with the Grand Final between December 10-12.

Each round will carry two SBS linear broadcasts, including the new Thursday night showcase.

New penalty shootout rules

The 2026 Australian Championship will feature a penalty shootout bonus point model for all drawn matches in the group stage, giving teams the chance to pick up crucial extra points towards their hopes of knockout qualification.

If a match ends in a draw at the end of the regulation 90 minutes:

• No extra time will be played, and the match will instead proceed directly to a penalty shootout.
• The winning team of the penalty shootout will then receive two competition points - one for the draw, and one for the shootout.
• The losing team of the shootout receives the standard one point for the draw, and no additional points.

Is this separate to A-League Men?

Yes, this competition is not connected to the A-League Men or any of its associated clubs. The Australian Championship is the national second tier for football in Australia, with no promotion or relegation between the two at this time.

What if I can't watch games live?

If you're not able to watch live, every match of the competition will be available for catch-up via a dedicated SBS On Demand Hub including full replays, and a highlights package for all matches - so you can watch the action your way.

How do I create an account for SBS On Demand?

Creating an account with SBS On Demand is free, quick and easy!

1. Visit: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/
2. Click on 'create account':
3. You'll then be prompted to enter:
   • First name
   • Email
   • A password of your choosing - your chosen password must be at least 5 characters with a number
   • Birth year
   • Gender

4. Once all the above details have been successfully entered, you'll see the above notification advising an email has been sent to you to verify your account:

5: Click the link on the email to verify your email address

6: You can now go ahead and sign in to SBS On Demand. Happy viewing!

Australian Championship | SBS LIVE Schedule

Thursday, October 15

Preston Lions v Wollongong Wolves

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS2 and SBS On Demand

Friday, October 16

Adelaide City v Avondale

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Oakleigh Cannons v Sydney Olympic

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Saturday, October 17

Sutherland Sharks v South Melbourne

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand

Broadmeadow Magic v Wests APIA

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Bayswater City v Marconi Stallions

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sunday, October 18

Sydney United v Canberra Croatia

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Lions FC v South Hobart

6pm - 8pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Thursday, October 22

Lions FC v Preston Lions

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS2 and SBS On Demand

Friday, October 23

South Melbourne v Sydney United 58

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Adelaide City v Wests APIA

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Saturday, October 24

Avondale v Broadmeadow Magic

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand

Marconi Stallions v Oakleigh Cannons

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Canberra Croatia v Sutherland Sharks

5pm - 7pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sunday, October 25

Wollongong Wolves v South Hobart

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sydney Olympic v Bayswater City

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Thursday, October 29

Canberra Croatia v South Melbourne

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS2 and SBS On Demand

Friday, October 30

Sydney Olympic v Marconi Stallions

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Broadmeadow Magic v Adelaide City

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Saturday, October 31

Sutherland Sharks v Sydney United 58

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand

Wollongong Wolves v Lions FC

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

South Hobart v Preston Lions

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sunday, November 1

Wests APIA v Avondale

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Bayswater City v Oakleigh Cannons

6pm - 8pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Thursday, November 5

Sydney Olympic v Oakleigh Cannons

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS2 and SBS On Demand

Friday, November 6

Canberra Croatia v Sydney United 58

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Saturday, November 7

Marconi Stallions v Bayswater City

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand

Wests APIA v Broadmeadow Magic

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Wollongong Wolves v Preston Lions

5pm - 7pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

South Melbourne v Sutherland Sharks

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sunday, November 8

Avondale v Adelaide City

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

South Hobart v Lions FC

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Thursday, November 12

Wests APIA v Adelaide City

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS2 and SBS On Demand

Friday, November 13

Oakleigh Cannons v Marconi Stallions

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Preston Lions v Lions FC

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Saturday, November 14

Sydney United 58 v South Melbourne

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand

South Hobart v Wollongong Wolves

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Bayswater City v Sydney Olympic

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sunday, November 15

Broadmeadow Magic v Avondale

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sutherland Sharks v Canberra Croatia

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Thursday, November 19

Lions FC v Wollongong Wolves

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS2 and SBS On Demand

Preston Lions v South Hobart

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Friday, November 20

South Melbourne v Canberra Croatia

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sydney United 58 v Sutherland Sharks

7:30pm - 9:30pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Saturday, November 21

Oakleigh Cannons v Bayswater City

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE on SBS and SBS On Demand

Marconi Stallions v Sydney Olympic

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Sunday, November 22

Adelaide City v Broadmeadow Magic

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

Avondale v Wests APIA

3pm - 5pm (AEDT)

LIVE via SBS On Demand

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