AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The men’s National League grand final has become the stage on which Auckland City and Wellington Olympic have defined New Zealand domestic football in recent years.
12 December 2025
On Saturday, the two sides meet again, renewing a rivalry that has grown into the competition’s heartbeat. It will be the third time in four seasons that the Navy Blues and Olympic contest the title, a fixture now steeped in tradition, pride, and history.
“We don’t take these occasions lightly”
For Auckland City captain Mario Ilich, the grand final is the culmination of a season that has stretched across continents. “It’s been a huge year, chaotic, we’ve been all over the world, played against some unbelievable teams and players,” he reflects. “To finally be here on finals week is crazy. There’s two teams left and we’re one of them, which we’re absolutely grateful for.”
Ilich is clear about the sacrifices required to reach this point. “Being in the grand final takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, which we’ve done all year, ever since February when we started pre-season. Mixed emotions, obviously, it’s the last week of training and the last game of the season, so hopefully we can finish on a high.”
The captain knows what awaits. “Wellington Olympic, it’s a huge rivalry between the two clubs and it’s always an intense and tight affair. Their fans get really behind them, so I’m sure it’s going to be a great spectacle. It’s probably going to come down to who wants to win the grand final the most.”
Garriga: “If you want to win a title, you have to play against the best”
Midfielder Gerard Garriga, echoes that sense of occasion but adds the perspective of a player who has lived through the ups and downs of a long campaign. “It’s been a very long and crazy year for us,” he admits. “A lot of ups and downs, a lot of international football. For all of us it’s been like a dream come true. But also playing in New Zealand, we had a season with ups and downs, maybe more disappointing results than we normally expect. At the end of the day, into another final, I’m so happy and proud of the team.”
For Garriga, facing Olympic is the ultimate test. “When you’re playing a final and you have to face Wellington Olympic, it’s always tough. Sometimes if you had to pick a team from New Zealand, maybe you wouldn’t pick them because it’s a really tough team. They’ve beaten us in a couple of finals. But if you want to win a title, you always have to play against the best.”
He points to the symmetry of the season: Auckland City claimed the Oceania Champions League, while Olympic lifted the Chatham Cup. “Someone has to give,” Garriga says. “They’ve had a good season, they must be proud. But for us, winning the OFC was the most important title for the club. And now we’re here again, after a crazy year with a lot of games and travelling around. Whoever wins the final, it’s going to be totally deserved.”
Tight margins, different conditions
Garriga recalls October’s round-robin clash, when Kilkolly struck late in Wellington. “It was a very difficult game, tough conditions, and I couldn’t play because of a fractured hand. Watching on TV, I was almost glad I wasn’t out there, it was so hard to play in that wind. But those three points gave us the push to reach the final. This time, it will be a totally different game, with a lot of respect between both teams.”
A rivalry rooted in heritage
On Saturday, the teams will also play for the Mediterranean Cup, donated by Dennis Katsanos and his family, that embodies the shared heritage of Auckland City, Central United, and Wellington Olympic, clubs founded by Croatian and Greek migrant communities whose passion for football helped shape the sport in New Zealand.
For players and supporters alike, the Cup is more than silverware: it is a living connection to generations of footballing families, a reminder that this fixture is about identity as much as results. Auckland City currently hold the trophy, with seven wins in the rivalry’s 12 chapters, but Saturday’s final will write the next line in its story.
The weight of the occasion
For Auckland City, the grand final is not just another match. “This club loves playing in big games, and it doesn’t come bigger than a national grand final,” says Ilich. Garriga agrees: “We are super excited and hopefully we want to beat them again.”
On Saturday, the Mediterranean Cup, the National League title, and the pride of two footballing communities will be on the line. For Auckland City, it is another chance to top off a historic season. For Wellington Olympic, it is another opportunity to tilt the balance of a rivalry that has come to define the sport in New Zealand.
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Match Details
Dettol National League GF | Mediterranean Cup
Saturday, 13 December
Newtown Park, Wellington
Kick-off: 6.00pm
AC SQUAD: 1. Conor TRACEY (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 4. Christian GRAY 5. Nikko BOXALL, 6. Orlando THORPE, 7. Myer BEVAN 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Nathan LOBO 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Jeremy FOO, 16. Joe LEE 17. Jerson LAGOS 18. Seb CIGANDA (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 20. Matt ELLIS 21. Adam BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Riley DALZIELL, 24. Nathan GARROW (GK) 25. Michael DEN HEIJER, 26. David YOO, 27. Haris ZEB, 28 Paris DOMFEH
HEAD COACH : Paul POSA
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
ASSISTANT COACH: Adria CASALS
GOALKEEPER COACH: Jonas HOFFMANN
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
