The top six of the Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 is locked in but the positions inside those top six still leave much up to the imagination.
🔢 The Current Top Six
- Jets — 45 pts (+12)
- Auckland FC — 41 pts (+13)
- Adelaide United — 40 pts (+9)
- Sydney FC — 38 pts (+8)
- Melbourne City — 38 pts (+1)
- Melbourne Victory — 37 pts (+9)
The Key Fixtures
Saturday: Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory | 7:35pm KO
Sunday: Sydney FC v Auckland FC | 3pm KO
Sunday: Melbourne City v Adelaide United | 5pm KO
How Finals Works
Finals in the Isuzu UTE A-League will work across a four week period.
Week 1: Elimination Finals – 3v6 & 4v5 | 1&2 Week Off
Week 2: Semi Final Leg 1 – Lowest Placed Winner of Elim v 1st & Highest Placed Winner of Elim v 2nd
Week 3: Semi Final Leg 2 – 1st v Lowest Placed Winner of Elim & 2nd v Highest Placed Winner of Elim
Week 4: Grand Final – Highest Placed Semi Final Winner v Lowest Placed Semi Final Winner
Final Round Permutations
If We Win By More Than Three Goals Against Auckland
Should we overcome Auckland by more than three goals this will catapult Patrick Kisnorbo’s side into 2nd place on goal difference, tied on 41 points with the Black Knights, however ahead on goal difference.
Sydney will either stay in 2nd or 3rd depending on the result in Melbourne between City & the Reds.
Should Adelaide fail to win, Sydney will finish the season in 2nd and secure the week off of Elimination Finals. Should Adelaide win, Sydney FC will finish the season in 3rd and play 6th place in the Elimination Finals, hosting this match at Allianz Stadium.
The Melbourne Victory result doesn’t impact our finish position in this scenario.
If We Win By Two Goals Against Auckland
Should we beat Auckland by two goals, then we will have to settle for 3rd or 4th place and play the Elimination Final in the first week of finals.
Once again, this depends on the Melbourne City game with Adelaide.
Should Adelaide lose, Sydney will finish the season in 3rd and host the Elimination Final. Should Adelaide and Melbourne City draw, then Sydney will be ahead on goal difference on the Reds and will finish third. Should Adelaide United win, Sydney FC will fall to 4th and host 5th place in the Elimination Final.
The Melbourne Victory result doesn’t impact our finish position in this scenario.
If We Beat Auckland By A Solitary Goal
If we were to beat Auckland by just one goal, then Sydney can move into 3rd but could finish 4th depending on the result in Melbourne.
Should Adelaide United lose, Sydney will finish the season in 3rd and host the Elimination Final. Should City and Adelaide draw, then Sydney and Adelaide will be level on points and goal difference (+9) so the tie breaker will now fall to the next category which is goals scored. Adelaide lead this 44 to 31 so Sydney FC will fall to 4th on the table. If Adelaide United win, Sydney FC will fall to 4th on the table and host the Elimination Final against 5th place.
The Melbourne Victory result doesn’t impact our finish position in this scenario.
If We Draw with Auckland
If the points are shared with the Black Knights, Sydney FC’s finish position relies heavily on results elsewhere.
Sydney will sit on 39 points so the highest position they can finish is 4th.
Should Adelaide United win, and Melbourne Victory win, then Sydney will fall to 5th place and will head to Melbourne in week one of Finals to take on Victory. Should Adelaide win & Victory draw with Wanderers then Sydney FC will fall to 5th and sit level on points with Victory however the Victorians will have a better goal difference and will sit above them.
Should Adelaide win & Victory lose then Sydney FC will remain in 4th place.
Should Adelaide & City draw and Victory beat Wanderers then Sydney will fall to 5th and take on Victory in the Elimination Final. If all teams draw then the positions would sit as they currently are and Sydney would host Melbourne City in the Elimination FInal.
Should City beat Adelaide and Victory beat Wanderers then Sydney FC will fall to 6th place on the table and will take on Aurelio Vidmar’s side in Melbourne in the Elimination Finals. Should City win & Victory draw then Sydney FC will still fall to 6th due to goal difference and take on City.
If We Lose to Auckland
Should the visitors take the points on Sunday, the Sky Blues’ position will be dependant on results elsewhere.
Should Adelaide win & Victory, Sydney will drop to 5th place and play Melbourne Victory in the Elimination Final. Should Adelaide win & Vctory draw then Sydney will also move to 5th place. Should Adelaide win & Victory lose then Sydney will remain in 4th and host Melbourne City in the Elimination Finals.
Should Adelaide and City draw, and Victory win, Sydney will finish in 6th. Should both teams draw their matches, Sydney will still fall to 6th with Victory’s better goal difference. Should Adelaide and City draw and Victory lose then Sydney FC will finish the season in 5th and travel to face Melbourne City in the Elimination Finals.
Should City beat Adelaide, and Victory beat Wanderers then Sydney will finish in 6th. Should City beat Adelaide and Victory draw with Wanderers then Sydney will also finish 6th and take on Melbourne City in the Elimination Finals. If City beat Adelaide and Wanderers beat Victory then Sydney will finish the season in 5th place and take on Adelaide United in the Elimination Final in Adelaide.
Got all that?
