The 2025–26 season was Wellington Phoenix Football Club's 19th season in the A-League Men. In addition to the domestic league, the club participated in this season's edition of the Australia Cup.
In the Australia Cup, the Phoenix progressed to the quarter-finals after defeating in a penalty shootout and NPL Victoria 3 team Nunawading City 1–0. Ultimately, the club succumbed to NPL Victoria side Heidelberg United on 19 August 2025. This was the last time the club participated in the Australia Cup, as New Zealand-based teams were omitted from the 2026 edition onwards.
The Phoenix commenced their A-League Men campaign on 18 October 2025 away to Perth Glory. The regular season concluded on 24 April 2026, with the team ending in 8th position on the table and without making the playoffs.
In January 2026, it was announced that the naming rights for Wellington Regional Stadium, known as Sky Stadium from 2020–2026, would be renamed Hnry Stadium effective 1 March 2026.
On 21 February, the Phoenix played their third New Zealand derby of the season against Auckland FC, having lost the previous two encounters, they went on to lose 5–0, the highest home defeat of the season. Head coach Giancarlo Italiano resigned minutes after the final whistle during his post-match press, ending his seven-year association with the club. On 23 February, Chris Greenacre was announced as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Following a successful interim spell, Greenacre was appointed to the position of head coach for the 2026–27 season.
Players
Other players with first-team appearances
Transfers Transfers in No.Pos.PlayerTransferred fromType/feeContract lengthDate7Free transfer1 year11UnattachedFree transfer1 year10Free transfer1 year4UnattachedFree transfer1 year12Free transfer1 year20UnattachedFree transfer1 year28UnattachedFree transfer2.5 years16Loan6 months9Loan5 months
From youth squad
Transfers out No.Pos.PlayerTransferred toType/feeDate4Perth GloryEnd of contract19Perth GloryEnd of contract7Western Sydney WanderersEnd of contract 11 UnattachedEnd of contract 12 End of loan 35UnattachedEnd of contract9UnattachedMutual contract termination
Contract extensions No.Player / coachPositionDurationDateNotes— Chris GreenacreHead coach1 year28 April 2026
Pre-season and friendlies The Phoenix began their preseason in July 2025, with Wrexham AFC, a Welsh club in the EFL Championship, touring three A-League Men clubs as part of their preseason Wrexham Down Under tour. On 20 September, the club hosted an open day including a fixture against Central League champions Wellington Olympic. On 24 September, the Phoenix confirmed their final three preseason matches in New South Wales against A-League Men opponents Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, and Central Coast Mariners.
Competitions Overall record
A-League Men
League table
Results summary As of end of season.
Results by round
Matches The A-League Men fixtures for the season were released on 11 September 2025. On 20 November 2025, the Phoenix confirmed their final home match of the season, set for 18 April 2026, will take place in Christchurch. This marks the second consecutive year the Wellington Phoenix play a match in the South Island city.
Australia Cup
The round of 32 Australia Cup draw took place on 26 June 2025, with the Phoenix drawing A-League Men rivals Perth Glory. The draw for the round of 16 and subsequent rounds took place on 30 July 2025. This was the last time Wellington Phoenix participated in the Australia Cup, as New Zealand-based teams were omitted from the 2026 edition onwards.
Statistics
Appearances and goals Includes all competitions. Players with no appearances not included in the list.
As of end of season.
Player A-League Men Australia Cup Total Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals 1 18 0 2 0 20 0 3 15+11 4 0 0 26 4 4 16+4 2 0 0 20 2 5 7+7 0 3 0 17 0 6 13+1 0 2 0 16 0 7 25 10 0+2 0 27 10 8 11+6 1 0+3 0 20 1 9 1+1 0 0 0 2 0 10 0+7 0 0 0 7 0 11 19+3 5 0+2 0 24 5 12 6+3 0 0 0 9 0 14 23 2 0+1 0 24 2 15 23 2 3 0 26 2 16 3+9 2 0 0 12 2 17 0+3 0 3 0 6 0 18 13+10 0 3 1 26 1 20 22+2 2 0 0 24 2 23 0+1 0 1+2 0 4 0 24 3+3 0 3 0 9 0 25 26 3 3 0 29 3 27 19+7 0 3 0 29 0 28 12+2 1 0 0 14 1 29 0+19 0 2+1 0 22 0 30 3+1 0 0 0 4 0 31 0+1 0 0 0 1 0 37 0+2 0 0 0 2 0 39 1 0 1 0 2 0 40 5+1 0 1 0 7 0 46 0 0 0+1 0 1 0Player(s) transferred out but featured this season 9 2+1 0 3 1 6 1 42 0 0 0+1 0 1 0
Disciplinary record Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total cards are equal. Players with no cards not included in the list.
As of end of season.
Rank Name A-League Men Australia Cup Total 1 11 FW 3 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 1 2 4 DF 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 3 14 MF 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 4 7 FW 5 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 5 15 DF 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 6 8 MF 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 25 MF 2 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 8 1 GK 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 3 DF 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 18 DF 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 24 DF 0 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 12 6 DF 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 16 MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 20 MF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 27 DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 29 DF 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 Total 35 0 2 5 0 0 40 0 2
Clean sheets Includes all competitions. The list is sorted by squad number when total clean sheets are equal. Numbers in parentheses represent games where both goalkeepers participated and both kept a clean sheet; the number in parentheses is awarded to the goalkeeper who was substituted on, whilst a full clean sheet is awarded to the goalkeeper who was on the field at the start of play. Goalkeepers with no clean sheets not included in the list.
As of end of season.
Rank Goalkeeper A-League Men Australia Cup Total 1 40 2 1 3 2 1 2 0 2 Total 4 1 5
End of season awards
+ Wellington Phoenix season awards Award Winner Members' under-23 player of the year Members' player of the year Men's goal of the year (Rd 7 vs Auckland FC) Golden boot (10) Media player of the year Players' player of the year Entelar & OPPO men's player of the year & Lloyd Morrison Spirit of the Phoenix award (women)
See also 2025–26 Wellington Phoenix FC (women) season
Notes
References
External links
Wellington Phoenix official website