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The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is the second-tier football competition in Australia, which underpins the A-League and Westfield W-League. The NPL was established in 2013 and operates in each Member Federation under a single national banner. There are 94 clubs that compete in the NPL each season, and the winner of each division is determined by the club in first place in each conference table at the end of the regular season. The NPL in Australia has been described as being on par with SEA Leagues like the SPL and has also been likened to English 6th division football. The NPL in NSW and Victoria are considered to be deeper in quality and more consistent, while the top teams in QLD, SA, and WA can still compete with them. However, there is a lack of funding for football in Australia, which has led to high fees for players and a lack of quality opportunities for talented players.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of clubs | 94 clubs compete in the NPL each season |
| Relegation | Teams may be relegated to a third-tier league in the same state |
| Promotion | There is no mechanism for promotion to the first-tier Australian soccer league, the A-League |
| Player development | The NPL incentivises clubs to develop players through their youth team structure and produce talent for national pathway programs |
| Competition format | Each member federation or 'conference' contains various numbers of teams, and they play a full season with no inter-conference matches |
| Winner determination | The winner of each division is determined by the club in first position of each conference table at the end of the regular season |
| Inaugural season | March 2013 |
| Participating states | NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, Canberra, NNSW |
| Quality | The NSW and VIC NPL are deeper in quality and more consistent, but top QLD/SA/WA sides can still compete |
| Coaching | Australia imports coaches for the NPL as local coaches are not sufficiently qualified |
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What You'll Learn
NPL in Australia is a pay-to-play system
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is the national second-tier competition in Australia. It was established in 2013 as a direct outcome of the National Competition Review (NCR) to re-brand and revitalise state-based competitions in Australia. The NPL operates in each Member Federation under a single national banner, with 94 clubs competing in the top tier each season.
Each Football Australia Member Federation manages its local division of the NPL, which culminates in the NPL Finals Series at the end of each winter season. The NPL Finals Series involves the league premiers of each Member Federation's NPL division. The winner of each division is determined by the club in first place in each conference table at the end of the regular season.
The NPL is a pay-to-play system, with clubs required to meet uniform national criteria to be eligible to participate. This includes sporting merit as well as financial and commercial criteria. For example, clubs must adopt a player points system that incentivises youth team development and talent progression to national programs and leagues.
The NPL is an important step in Football Australia's strategic vision to make Australia a world-class football nation and to better connect elite player development with the wider football community. While there is no mechanism for promotion to the first-tier A-League, the NPL provides a platform for players to showcase their talent and make the step up to the A-League.
The quality of NPL competitions varies across the different states in Australia. NSW and Victoria are generally considered to have the strongest leagues, with Queensland and South Australia also producing strong sides. The NPL in these states is considered to be on par with SEA Leagues and English 6th division, showcasing the depth of quality and consistency in Australian football.
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NPL's second-tier status in Australian football
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is a national second-tier competition that supports the A-League, the first tier of Australian soccer. The NPL was established in 2013 after Football Australia's national competition review. Its purpose was to rebrand and revitalise state and member federation-based competitions in Australia and improve opportunities for elite player development.
The NPL is run by member federations, with a national playoff tournament at the end of each season. Each member federation or 'conference' contains various numbers of teams, and they play a full season with no inter-conference matches. The winner of each division is determined by the club in first place in each conference table at the end of the regular season.
While the NPL is a second-tier competition, there is currently no mechanism for a team to be promoted to the first-tier A-League. Teams may be relegated from the NPL to a third-tier league in the same state, and vice versa. The number of teams promoted and relegated from third-tier leagues per state has varied over time.
The quality of NPL competitions varies across different states. Some believe that the NSW and VIC NPLs are deeper in quality and more consistent, while others argue that the top QLD, SA, and WA sides can beat them in any given year.
In 2025, Football Australia unveiled plans for a Champions League-style second-tier competition known as the Australian Championship. This competition will feature 16 teams competing in four groups before moving into a knockout finals series. The long-term goal remains to implement promotion and relegation between the second and third tiers and fully link the pyramid.
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NPL's history and rebrand from the Australian Premier League
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is a men's national association football competition in Australia that was established in 2013. It acts as the second tier of Australian football below the A-League. The NPL was formed after a National Competition Review by Football Federation Australia (FFA), which aimed to revitalise state-based competitions and improve elite player development.
Prior to the NPL's introduction, the National Soccer League (NLS) was the top nationwide tier of Australian football from 1977 to 2004. In 2005, the A-League succeeded the NLS as the top division. The NPL was then introduced in 2013 as a direct second tier, rebranding five of the nine top state leagues. The remaining leagues, except for the Northern Territory, joined the following year.
The NPL consists of the highest-level state league in each state-based federation within Australia. There are eight divisions in total: ACT, NSW, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia. Each division has its own history and branding, which were unified under the NPL banner. For example, the NSW Premier League was rebranded as the National Premier Leagues NSW, with Bonnyrigg White Eagles becoming the inaugural champions. Similarly, the Victorian state league has undergone several rebrands, including the Victorian Premier League and, most recently, the National Premier Leagues Victoria in 2014.
The NPL competitions in each state are run by the member federation, with a national playoff tournament at the end of each season. While there is currently no mechanism for promotion to the A-League, there is relegation to third-tier leagues in some states. From the 2025 season onwards, the NPL premiers from each member federation will compete in the new 16-team Australian Championship.
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The quality of NPL compared to other leagues
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is the second-highest tier of Australian football, below the A-League. It was established in 2013 to unify the various state-based premier leagues under a single banner.
The NPL does not have a mechanism for promotion to the A-League, and relegation is dependent on the state federation in charge. The NPL is considered semi-professional, with some speculating that the top NPL sides in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) would be comparable to the English 4th/5th divisions, and the lower NPL teams in those states to the English 6th division.
The NPL in NSW and Victoria is considered to be the strongest, with the most consistent quality and depth. However, the top teams in other states, such as Queensland (QLD), South Australia (SA), and Western Australia (WA), are still capable of beating them on any given day. The NPL in Northern New South Wales (NNSW) is also considered underrated, with their teams performing well in the Australia Cup.
The NPL has produced players who have gone on to play in the A-League, and it serves as an important step in developing players and showcasing local talent. However, football in Australia is considered underfunded, and the NPL has been described as a "pay-to-play" system, with high fees for players and a lack of quality coaching. Despite this, the NPL has a high level of participation at the junior level, and it remains an important part of Australia's football landscape.
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NPL's best teams and their performance in the FFA Cup
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is a men's national association football competition in Australia, acting as the second tier of Australian football. The NPL consists of the highest-level state leagues in each state-based federation within Australia. The NPL is made up of clubs from eight divisions: ACT, NSW, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia.
The FFA Cup is a national knockout competition in Australia, which was founded in 2014. The FFA Cup features 32 teams, including 10 A-League teams and 22 Member Federation teams, which are semi-professional and amateur qualifiers. The Member Federation clubs tend to have younger players, with an average age of 24.9 years compared to 27.1 for A-League teams.
Victoria has been the most successful state in the FFA Cup, with teams from NPL Victoria and lower Victorian leagues winning 14 of their 30 matches from the round of 32 onwards, a win percentage of 47%. Victorian NPL teams Bentleigh Greens (2014) and Hume City (2015) have progressed to the semi-finals, while Green Gully and Bentleigh reached the quarter-finals in 2016.
Other successful NPL teams in the FFA Cup include North Eastern MetroStars from South Australia, who became the first club to qualify as NPL Champions in 2014, and Sydney United 58, who became the first NPL club to reach the final in 2022, defeating Brisbane Roar in the semi-final.
The winner of the FFA Cup has traditionally earned a spot in the Asian Champions League, although this has varied depending on the competition format and Australia's qualification slots.
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Frequently asked questions
The National Premier Leagues (NPL) is the national second-tier competition in Australia for men's football.
The NPL operates in each Member Federation under a single national banner. Each Member Federation, or 'conference', contains various numbers of teams, and they play a full season with no inter-conference matches. The winner of each division is the club in first place in each conference table at the end of the regular season.
The NPL is seen as a good standard of football in Australia, with some suggesting that the top teams in the NPL could beat teams in the first-tier A-League. The NPL in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (Vic) is thought to be of a higher standard than in other states, with some suggesting it is comparable to the English 6th division.
The NPL has a player points system that incentivises clubs to develop players through their youth team structure and produce talent that progresses to national pathway programs and the A-League, Westfield W-League, and Football Australia National Teams.
The John Kosmina Medal is awarded to the best player in the NPL final and is named after former Australian international John Kosmina.
