AUCKLAND, New Zealand - The regular season is done. The table is locked. And Auckland City FC x NRF arrive in Christchurch exactly where they intended to be, top of the league, top of the form charts, and top of the contenders list.
26 March 2026
After dropping their opening match back in January, the Futsal Navy Blues have been flawless. Ten wins, one draw, and not a single defeat since Week One. Last weekend’s 3–1 tune‑up over Hawke’s Bay was another reminder of their rhythm and ruthlessness, with Adam Paulsen’s double and Dominic Hawkins’ strike sealing the points.
City finish four points clear at the summit, with the league’s best attack and best defence:
| Team | P | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACFCXNRF | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 71 | 20 | +51 | 31 |
| CAP | 12 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 39 | +12 | 27 |
| CUD | 12 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 25 |
| WAI | 12 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 45 | 48 | -3 | 15 |
Regular Season Snapshot
- 31 points – most in the league
- 71 goals scored – highest in the competition
- 20 goals conceded – fewest in the competition
- +51 goal difference – more than double any other finalist
- Unbeaten since January – 12‑match run of 10 wins and a draw
That dominance has them entering Finals Weekend as the favourites, but knockout futsal has a way of rewriting scripts.
THE SEMI-FINAL: AUCKLAND CITY FC x NRF vs WAIKATO RAPIDS
Waikato Rapids clinched fourth place with a gritty, resilient campaign built on tight matches and late‑game moments. Their 45 goals scored show they can hurt teams, but their 48 conceded, the highest among the finalists, is a pressure point City will look to exploit.
Auckland City, meanwhile, bring firepower everywhere.
Adam Paulsen is firmly in the Golden Boot race, joined by teammates Oban Hawkins and Stephen Ashby‑Peckham, giving City three legitimate scoring threats capable of deciding a semi-final on their own.
Last Time They Met: The Pulman Double‑Header
Saturday 31 January – Auckland City 6–0 Waikato Rapids
A dismantling. A statement. A performance head coach Nic Downes described as “the standard the group wants to set.”
City were two goals up at the break through Oban Hawkins and Kyaw Mya, before the second half turned into a showcase:
Sam Twigg, Adam Paulsen, Kern Platts‑Mills and Sam Fagan all scoring as the Navy Blues blew the game open.
Sunday 1 February – Auckland City 2–2 Waikato Rapids
A different test. Trailing 1–0 at half‑time, City showed the resilience that has become a hallmark of their season.
Paulsen and Twigg dragged the side back into it, securing a hard‑earned draw and proving they can win in more ways than one.
Those two matches tell the story of this semi-final: City at their best can overwhelm anyone, but Waikato have enough grit, and enough goals, to make life uncomfortable if given a foothold.
Key Storylines
- City’s attack vs Waikato’s defence – the league’s most potent frontline against the most porous back line in the top four.
- Golden Boot chase – Paulsen, Oban Hawkins, and Ashby‑Peckham all in the mix.
THE OTHER SEMI: CAPITAL FUTSAL vs CANTERBURY DRAGONS
A heavyweight clash between the second‑ and third‑placed sides.
Capital bring the league’s second‑best attack; Canterbury bring the league’s second‑best defence. Whoever emerges will be a serious threat in Sunday’s final.
FINALS WEEKEND SCHEDULE | CHRISTCHURCH
| Date | Time | Stage | Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday 28 March 2026 | 4:00pm | Semi-Final 1 | Auckland City FC x NRF vs Waikato Rapids | Parakiore Recreation & Sports Centre (Court 1) |
| Saturday 28 March 2026 | 6:30pm | Semi-Final 2 | Capital Futsal vs Canterbury United Dragons | Parakiore Recreation & Sports Centre (Court 1) |
| Sunday 29 March 2026 | 10:00am | 3rd/4th Playoff | Loser SF1 vs Loser SF2 | Parakiore Recreation & Sports Centre (Court 1) |
| Sunday 29 March 2026 | 2:30pm | Grand Final | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Parakiore Recreation & Sports Centre (Court 1) |
THE MISSION
Two semis. One final. One trophy. Auckland City have earned the No.1 seed — now they chase the title.
Live on FIFA+
AC : Adam PAULSEN, Alexander ROBERTS, Andres MAGLIOLA, Art TWIGG, Ashton HARBIN, Denny TWIGG, Dominic HAWKINS, Dylan MANICKUM, Emilio GHOSH‑NOVERO, Finn AMBRIDGE, Hayden COOPER, Hugo COPLEY, James MARSHALL, Joshua DA COSTA, Kern PLATTS‑MILLS, Kyaw MYA, Mario RAMOS, Mike ANTAMANOV, Oban HAWKINS, Peter RAGON, Sam FAGAN, Sam TWIGG, Stephen ASHBY‑PECKHAM (C)
HEAD COACH: Nic DOWNES
ASSISTANT COACH: Sam COYLE
GOALKEEPER COACH: Elias BILLEH
PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Emily LO
TEAM MANAGER: Jason WIN
