New Zealand Football (NZF) have released their National Competition Plan, a piece of work 6-months in the making to set the vision for Aotearoa New Zealand’s top-tier domestic league competition for men and women.
"Following a period of consultation with over 400 stakeholders nationwide, including club leaders, federation staff, referees, NZF committees, players, and fans, the Plan now outlines a shared ambition to deliver a domestic competition that is sustainable, exposes players to the highest level of competitive football, and aligns with NZF’s talent development strategy," NZF stated in their release.
What This Means for Christchurch United
The most significant change is the move to a club-based, double round-robin national competition starting in 2027.
The new format will feature:
This aspirational structure means that from our junior academy right up to the senior teams, there is a clear, open pathway to the country’s top flight.
Lifting the Standards
NZF will also release updated Club Licensing Criteria to ensure the standards are lifted both on and off the field.
Immediate Changes (Ahead of 2026)
We are already preparing for changes that will take effect in the 2026 National League season:
Andrew Pragnell, CEO at New Zealand Football said:
“The momentum behind the game in Aotearoa New Zealand is huge, so this is a great time for us to be looking to evolve our top-tier domestic competitions to ensure they are delivering the best possible product for our players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
“The football landscape in New Zealand has changed significantly in the last 5 years, so it was important for us speak to stakeholders across the game to design a competition satisfies as many goals as possible.
“This is a bold and ambitious plan which will see the top sides playing more competitive games, give talented players opportunities to develop, engage our clubs in an open pathways, and be sustainable whilst reaching growing audiences domestically and internationally.
“It is really exciting to see it come together so we look forward to it formally getting underway in 2027.”
The regulations for the 2026 National League and further information on the 2027 competition will be released in November 2025. We look forward to keeping our members and fans updated on our progress toward this exciting new era for football.
"Following a period of consultation with over 400 stakeholders nationwide, including club leaders, federation staff, referees, NZF committees, players, and fans, the Plan now outlines a shared ambition to deliver a domestic competition that is sustainable, exposes players to the highest level of competitive football, and aligns with NZF’s talent development strategy," NZF stated in their release.
What This Means for Christchurch United
The most significant change is the move to a club-based, double round-robin national competition starting in 2027.
The new format will feature:
- Men's Competition: 12 teams plus play-offs and a final.
- Women's Competition: 10 teams plus play-offs and a final.
- Promotion and Relegation: Crucially, the leagues will introduce promotion and relegation, establishing a vital pathway and a clear incentive for clubs to invest and succeed.
This aspirational structure means that from our junior academy right up to the senior teams, there is a clear, open pathway to the country’s top flight.
Lifting the Standards
NZF will also release updated Club Licensing Criteria to ensure the standards are lifted both on and off the field.
Immediate Changes (Ahead of 2026)
We are already preparing for changes that will take effect in the 2026 National League season:
- The requirement for 10% of playing minutes to be taken by Under 20 players will be removed, giving our coaches greater flexibility in squad selection.
- Players who are permanent residents of New Zealand will now qualify to play in the same way as a New Zealand Citizen, which is a great step forward for diversity and talent retention.
Andrew Pragnell, CEO at New Zealand Football said:
“The momentum behind the game in Aotearoa New Zealand is huge, so this is a great time for us to be looking to evolve our top-tier domestic competitions to ensure they are delivering the best possible product for our players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
“The football landscape in New Zealand has changed significantly in the last 5 years, so it was important for us speak to stakeholders across the game to design a competition satisfies as many goals as possible.
“This is a bold and ambitious plan which will see the top sides playing more competitive games, give talented players opportunities to develop, engage our clubs in an open pathways, and be sustainable whilst reaching growing audiences domestically and internationally.
“It is really exciting to see it come together so we look forward to it formally getting underway in 2027.”
The regulations for the 2026 National League and further information on the 2027 competition will be released in November 2025. We look forward to keeping our members and fans updated on our progress toward this exciting new era for football.
