After an eye catching Dettol National League regional phase, the New Zealand Football’s premier domestic competition begins it’s season defining Championship stage tomorrow.

The new season gets underway in Wellington on Saturday 26 September, kicking off at 2pm as Waterside Karori host Fencibles United AFC at Martin Luckie Park in the women’s Dettol National League Championship opener.

Half hour later, the men’s competition begins as the Wellington Phoenix Reserves host Auckland United at NZCIS in Upper Hutt.

Saturday will also see Ferrymead Bays debut in the men’s Dettol National League Championship where they’ll host Eastern Suburbs AFC in Christchurch at 3:30pm.

Defending men’s champions Auckland City have a bye for the first round.

Arguably the biggest opening round match in the men’s competition comes on Sunday 27 September, when Dettol Northern League champions Birkenhead United host Dettol Southern League winners, Cashmere Technical, at Shepherds Park on Auckland’s North Shore at 3pm.

Both sides come into Sunday’s showdown off the back of invincible seasons in the Dettol Northern League and Dettol Southern League respectively.

Birkenhead United won 18 of their 22 encounters, amassing 58 points on their way to their impressive unbeaten Dettol Northern League title which they clinched with four games in hand.

Cash Tech were victorious in 17 of their 18 matches in the Dettol Southern League, a draw against Nomads United, the only blemish in their incredible regional league season which also saw them score a whopping 91 goals (32 of which were scored by Garbhan Coughlan).

The Christchurch based club were also runners up in the 2026 Delivereasy Chatham Cup final to Fencibles.

There’ll be interest too in the women’s Dettol National League Championship with Southern United – Otago University making history when they take to the field at Keith Hay Park in Auckland.

The southerners’ first round match against defending champions Auckland United, will see them be the first university women’s side to reach this stage of the competition, with their entry into the Dettol National League Championship done in partnership with Southern United.

Auckland United’s women’s team are aiming to extend their Dettol National League dynasty, as they challenge for a fourth consecutive crown in 2026.

The opening round of the Dettol National League Championship also marks a unique moment in New Zealand Football history.

The 2026 season will be the final time both competitions will be played in this format, with changes coming to the Dettol National Leagues next year with a full winter national league, both leagues club-based for the first time and promotion and relegation.

You can read more about the 2027 Dettol National League Championship format changes here.

Dettol Men's National League Championship 2026
Round 1 | 26-27 September 2026

Dettol Women’s National League Championship 2026
Round 1 | 26-27 September 2026

Article added: Friday 25 September 2026