Australian soccer league system

Australian soccer league system
A map showing the nine member federations of Football Australia, which each control their respective state-based competitions.
CountryAustralia
SportSoccer
Promotion and relegationNo national system of promotion and relegation. Promotion and relegation does exist in every state and the Australian Capital Territory, but not in the Northern Territory.
National system
FederationFootball Australia
ConfederationAFC
Top division
Second division
Cup competition
Regional systems
Federations
Top divisions
Second divisions
Soccer in Australia

The Australian soccer league system is the league structure for soccer clubs in Australia. The league system in Australia since 1977 has involved one top divisional league controlled by Football Australia and many leagues run within each state below.

The National Soccer League (NLS) stood from 1977 to 2004 as the top nationwide tier above the current state-based league systems. In 2005, the A-League (known as A-League Men since 2021) was established as its successor.

The introduction of the National Premier Leagues (NPL) in 2013 introduced a direct second tier of soccer in Australia, underpinning the A-League. The NPL incorporated the existing state leagues as divisions with a nationwide end of season finals series, rebranding five of the nine top state leagues. The remainder – with the exception of the Northern Territory – joined in 2014.

There is no promotion and relegation to and from the top-tier A-League, and promotion and relegation at other levels varies between different state systems.