Auckland FC make history with A-League Men grand final win over Sydney FC

Sunday, 24 May 2026

At Go Media Stadium, Auckland: Auckland FC 1 (Cam Howieson 60’) Sydney FC 0. HT: 0-0

After 20 years of A-League Men football, New Zealand finally has a champion team.

'Within three years,' was the timeline Auckland FC’s billionaire owner Bill Foley laid out ahead of their debut in October 2024.

Auckland FC players mob goalscorer Cam Howieson during the press conference after their grand final win. Coach Steve Corica has got out of the way of the beer and champagne to the right.

Less than two years later, they have achieved what the New Zealand Knights and Wellington Phoenix couldn't in a combined 21 seasons between them, 12 months after topping the table and claiming the Premiers’ Plate, but falling two steps short in their first finals series.

Cam Howieson scored his first Auckland goal to give them a 1-0 win over Sydney FC in the 2025-26 grand final, played in front of a 28,374-strong crowd at Go Media Stadium on Saturday night.

Players invaded the press conference room as he sat next to coach Steve Corica dissecting proceedings, drenching the pair – and the journalists present – in beer and champagne.

Steve Corica was speaking to the media about his side's historic grand final triumph when he was drenched in champagne.

Corica quipped later: “Have a look at that bunch. They’re ready to go. We are going back to one of our owner's restaurants, and we are going to party long and hard.”

Four weeks ago, at the end of the regular season, Auckland had fallen to third, were winless in five matches, and it was hard to see them lifting the iconic 'toilet seat' championship trophy this season.

Then came their penalty shootout elimination final win over Melbourne City, a dominant away win over Adelaide United to take out their two-legged semifinal and a final-winning goal from an unlikely source – a run that had a sense of destiny about it as soon as it started.

Howieson only registered his first assist for Auckland two weeks ago, in his 42nd match – if you can say that about a shanked shot that fell to a team-mate's feet.

When his team needed it the most, with the scores locked at 0-0 an hour into the decider, match No 44, he scored his first goal – with help from a deflection off Sydney centre back Jordan Courtney-Perkins.

Auckland FC lift the A-League Men trophy.

The Sky Blues' goalkeeper, Harrison Devenish-Meares, was left stranded moving to his left, unable to do anything to stop the ball from going in the back of the net to his right.

He didn't really have to make another save, beforehand or after. Auckland goalkeeper Michael Woud didn't have a lot to do either, as the final turned out to be an extremely scrappy affair – not that any of the home fans in attendance cared come the end of it.

Howieson said afterwards: “It probably hasn't sunk in yet. Over the course of the next two or three days it probably will, but it's just amazing to be a part of it. It's been a journey, but I've loved every minute of it, the last two years.

“We've felt the support right from the start.

“It probably wasn't the prettiest game – it was just about digging in and fighting and everyone just putting their bodies on the line.

Dan Hall hugs Cam Howieson after his goal.

“Finals don't have to be pretty. We're champions. How good.'

The win made Corica a champion for a record third time as a head coach.

He won two in charge of Sydney, where he also won two as player, and joins Graham Arnold as the second coach to win championships with two different clubs.

Corica scored the winning goal in the first grand final 20 years ago – also a 1-0 result – so he knows exactly how Howieson is feeling.

“Absolutely amazing,” Corica said. “What a night. Obviously a lot of pressure on the boys as well, being at home, but they handled it really well.

Hiroki Sakai on the ball for Auckland FC.

“It was amazing, the atmosphere out there. It was a bit scrappy, the game, but that's grand finals sometimes – they're not pretty. It's about the desire, wanting to win every second ball. I think we showed that tonight.

“Obviously very happy for Cam as well, to win man of the match, I think that's outstanding from him.“

Stuff spoke to several Auckland FC fans after their win over Sydney FC in the 2026 A-League Men grand final.

Departing All White Jesse Randall had a chance to end the contest in the 82nd minute after sprinting clear, but somehow sent his shot from point-blank range over the bar.

“It's an unbelievable feeling to go out this way,“ he said. ”I love this club, and it's an emotional ending … a good emotional ending.“

Dan Hall was Howieson’s closest rival for the player of the match award, sweeping up everything he needed to at the back, in what might well be his last outing in an Auckland jersey.

“I'm just so proud of this playing group,” he said. “Coming into the finals, people doubted us, and I think we just continued to prove them wrong.”

Asked if it was indeed his last game for Auckland, Hall said only that “it definitely was my last game this season”.

Hall made the penultimate intervention in the final 35 minutes, where Auckland were defending their hard-earned lead, blocking a cross from the right and sending the ball out for a long throw, deep into stoppage time.

Fellow centre back Nando Pijnaker booted the ball away when it came back in and the celebrations started as soon as the final whistle blew.

Auckland will celebrate with their fans with an open-top bus ride down Queen St at lunchtime on Sunday.