A semi-professional Australian team could be in the Champions League next season

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Tom Weber | Writer

Multilingual sports writer who specialises in European football and American soccer.

Semi-professional Heidelberg United will compete in the AFC Champions League Two next season, if they can secure a license for the competition.

One of the most remarkable stories in Australian football is currently developing. Second-division Heidelberg United are in line to represent the country in an international competition because of a somewhat strange ruling by Football Australia.

The National Premier Leagues Victoria side, founded as "Alexander the Great" by Greek immigrants in the 1950s, have been elected as Australia's representative in the AFC Champions League Two because Football Australia prioritises cup success over league positioning.

Back in 2025, Alexander went on a fairytale run in the Australia Cup, beating three A-League teams without conceding a single goal on their way to the final. There, they were stopped by the Newcastle Jets, losing 3-1 in extra time.

It was the Jets' first piece of silverware since 2008 and set them up for an impressive A-League campaign. Due to winning the Australia Cup, the Jets qualified for the AFC Champions League Two.

Heidelberg benefit from Jets' success

However, Mark Milligan's men have now also managed to qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite, the higher-tier international competition. The current A-League leaders can't be overtaken by another Australia-based team after their 1-1 draw with Adelaide United at the weekend.

Auckland FC, who are still fighting the Jets for the Premiership, are not eligible to play in AFC competitions due to being based in New Zealand. Because of the Jets' success this season - they have a chance to win the treble - an AFC Champions League Two spot has opened up.

Last week, Football Australia confirmed to ESPN that this spot should be filled based on Australia Cup rankings rather than A-League placement, meaning that Heidelberg United are set to play continental football next season.

Obviously, they will only be allowed to compete if they fulfil the AFC's licensing requirements, which means that they need to find an alternative venue to their current Olympic Park home.

According to Joey Lynch, Alexander are doing everything in their power to make it happen. Suggestions that the club are unlikely to meet the requirements are being strongly denied, though there is, of course, no guarantee at this stage that their efforts will be successful.

Heidelberg are currently fourth in the NPL Victoria table. Captain Ben Collins won the A-League Championship with Western United in 2022. Midfielder Anthony Lesiotis, who played for Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory and the Western Sydney Wanderers, is another notable player.

Should Heidelberg fail to meet the licensing requirements, their spot would be transferred to the next highest-seeded A-League team. Sydney FC and Adelaide United are currently level on 37 points, followed by Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City on 36 and 35, respectively.

There is also a chance that another continental spot opens up for Australia. On Tuesday, the AFC announced yet another reform to the Champions League, namely that the ACL Elite will be expanded from 24 to 32 clubs.

16 teams will compete in the East and West Regions going forward, but the AFC did not reveal where the additional participants will come from. It is possible that two A-League teams will be permitted to play in the ACL Elite next term.

This season, Melbourne City represented Australia in the ACL Elite after finishing runners-up behind Auckland in the 2024/25 regular season. They were knocked out on penalties in the round of 16 by Thailand's Buriram United last month.

Similarly, 2024 Australia Cup winners Macarthur FC bowed out in the round of 16 of the ACL2 after losing 4-2 on aggregate to Bangkok United. A-League teams have perennially disappointed in continental competitions.

The Western Sydney Wanderers (2014 Champions League) and Central Coast Mariners (2024 ACL2) are the only A-League teams to have won silverware. Adelaide United finished as runners-up in the 2008 Champions League final.

Perhaps giant-killers Heidelberg United can cause a stir next season!

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