AUCKLAND, New Zealand - Auckland City FC begin their 2026 Northern League campaign with a demanding away fixture at Western Springs, as the National League champions meet the reigning regional champions in one of the standout matches of the opening round.
20 March 2026
The match marks the first competitive outing for new head coach Rudy Mozr, who becomes the 17th person to take charge of the club’s first team.
Mozr, who oversaw a short but productive pre‑season, says his side are prepared for the challenge. “I’m pleased with how the team is working,” he said. “The boys have taken the information on board. Western Springs away is always tough, but it will be a good football game and we’re ready for it.”
Captain Mario Ilich echoed that confidence, highlighting the squad’s hunger to reclaim the Northern League title. “We want to right our wrongs and get that title back,” he said. “We finished last season on a massive high with the National League, and now it starts again against Western Springs.”
Milestones
Saturday’s match will also see several milestones and potential debuts. Club record appearance holder Ryan De Vries is set to make his 248th outing for the Navy Blues, while a number of new signings could feature competitively for the first time.
Tom Golding, Nathan Rostron, Kieran Richards and Michal Doudera are all in line for debuts, while Nicholas Zambrano who made a brief cameo for the club in 2014, could feature again more than a decade later.
The match will be Auckland City’s 665th competitive fixture since 2004.
Auckland City FC vs Western Springs Head‑to‑Head
| Date | Fixture | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 2014 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 3–5 | Friendly |
| 24 Apr 2021 | Auckland City v Western Springs | 4–3 | Northern League |
| 10 May 2021 | Auckland City v Western Springs | 4–0 | Northern League |
| 31 Aug 2022 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 3–5 | Northern League |
| 25 Mar 2023 | Auckland City v Western Springs | 4–0 | Northern League |
| 2 Jun 2023 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 1–3 | Northern League |
| 8 Jul 2023 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 3–2 | Chatham Cup R4 |
| 24 Apr 2024 | Auckland City v Western Springs | 2–1 | Northern League |
| 20 Jul 2024 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 1–1 | Northern League |
| 3 Nov 2024 | Auckland City v Western Springs | 1–2 | National League |
| 12 Apr 2025 | Auckland City v Western Springs | 0–1 | Northern League |
| 19 Jul 2025 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 1–2 | Northern League |
| 29 Nov 2025 | Western Springs v Auckland City | 1–3 | National League |
Western Springs enter the season as defending Northern League champions but with a squad reshaped by departures to the professional game. Despite the turnover, they remain strong at home and have historically matched City for intensity at Seddon Fields.
The fixture has become one of the league’s most competitive in recent years. Auckland City have won nine of the last 13 meetings, including a 3–1 victory at Seddon Fields in November, but Western Springs have claimed notable results of their own, including last season’s National League win at Kiwitea Street.
Earlier in the day, Auckland City’s U23s begin their Lotto NRFL Premiership season at 2:30pm, also at Seddon Fields. Skipper Niko Tarawa says the group is “sharp, connected, and ready to play our tempo” after a positive pre‑season.
Northern League Round 1 Fixtures
| Fixture | Date | Kick‑off | Venue | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tauranga City v East Coast Bays | 21 March | 3:00pm | Links Ave | FIFA+ |
| Western Springs v Auckland City FC | 21 March | 5:30pm | Seddon Fields | FIFA+ |
| Fencibles United v Bay Olympic | 21 March | 6:30pm | Riverhills Park | FIFA+ |
| Melville United v Auckland United | 21 March | 7:00pm | Gower Park | FIFA+ |
| Birkenhead United v Eastern Suburbs | 22 March | 3:00pm | Shepherds Park | — |
| Manukau United v AFC Reserves | 22 March | 3:00pm | Mangere Centre Park | — |
Supporters’ Meet‑Up
Supporters will gather at the Elbow Room in Herne Bay from 3pm before making their way to the ground, with the club encouraging a strong turnout for what is expected to be one of the headline fixtures of Match Week 1.
If you can’t make it to the match Watch Live HERE courtesy of FIFA+
Ends
AC SQUAD: 1. Nathan GARROW (GK) 2. Mario ILICH (C) 3. Adam MITCHELL 5. Nathan ROSTRON 6. Kieran RICHARDS, 7. Michal DOUDERA 8. Gerard GARRIGA 9. Angus KILKOLLY 10. Dylan MANICKUM 11. Ryan DE VRIES 12. Regont MURATI 13. Shaan ANAND 14. Nico ZAMBRANO 15. Jeremy FOO 16. Paris DOMFEH 18. Ari PRASAD (GK) 19. Dylan CONNOLLY, 21. Adam Kanui BELL 22. Tong ZHOU 23. Alfie ROGERS 24. Seba CIGANDA (GK) 27. Tom GOLDING
HEAD COACH : Rudy MOZR
ASSISTANT COACH: Ivan VICELICH
ASSISTANT COACH: Alan SHAKER
GOALKEEPER COACH: Adam BANNISTER
TRAINER: Karlo PAVIC
PHYSIO: Matt PAYNE
TEAM MANAGER: Keith COTON
