New Zealand national club champions Auckland City are ready to chase their 14th OFC Men’s Champions League title, and their fifth in a row.
The Navy Blues start their 2026 campaign on Monday when they face Solomon Islands’ Central Coast in Group A of the eight-team tournament in Fiji.
The Aucklanders, who have only ever lost nine matches in the competition, are unbeaten in 27 fixtures dating back to the 2019 semi-finals.
Head coach Rudy Mozr says City have arrived in Fiji with a positive attitude, and a squad that’s healthyu and ready to play.
Captain Mario Ilich says it’s important his team gets off to a good start in their opening group game.
“Solomon teams are very technical; they like to keep the ball. It should be a great game for the neutral, but we’ll look to get a grip early and keep possession. It’s really important to start well in these competitions — it sets you up for the rest of the group,” he said.
Strong squad named by Auckland City
This year’s OFC Champions League squad include long‑serving Navy Blues, returning players, new arrivals who have already made an impact, and emerging talent stepping onto the continental stage for the first time.
Captain Mario Ilich, Ryan De Vries, Dylan Manickum, Alfie Rogers, and Gerard Garriga form the backbone of the group — long‑serving Navy Blues who have shaped the club’s identity across domestic titles, continental campaigns, and international tournaments.
A significant part of the squad also carries deep Navy Blues experience, including FIFA Club World Cup involvement with Auckland City.
Christian Gray, Jeremy Foo, Nikko Boxall, Michael den Heijer, Nathan Lobo, and Matt Ellis were all part of last year’s global campaign, bringing valuable international exposure and big‑game temperament.
Within that group, Gray, den Heijer, Lobo, and Ellis arrive sharpened by their recent stint in the OFC Pro League.
The Czech duo — Michal Doudera and Pavel Osmancik — have already made a notable impact with their European sharpness and tactical maturity.
Head coach Rudy Mozr … will lead City’s title defence.
Players such as Nathan Rostron, Ryan Watson, Tom Golding, Shaan Anand, Rhys Davies and Fergus Gillion, who also brings OFC Pro League experience from his time with Bula FC, have integrated brilliantly and become important parts of Rudy Mozr’s evolving team structure.
Bono Kacurov, stepping up from the U‑23s, earns his place in the travelling squad after a strong domestic campaign and continued development within the club’s pathway.
In goal, new signing Matthew Foord, also from Pro League side Bula, will be supported by Cam Brown and Ari Prasad.
Some City players will miss the tournament through work commitments or private life responsibilities — these include vice captain Adam Mitchell, Angus Kilkolly, Regent Murati and Tong Zhou.
“Unfortunately, a few players weren’t available for selection due to work commitments and not being able to take the required time away. Of course, that’s not ideal, and we would have loved to have everyone available, but it’s also the reality of the environment we operate in and something we have to respect and deal with,” coach Mozr said.
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Squad
1. Cam Brown (GK), 2. Mario Ilich (captain), 4. Christian Gray, 5. Nathan Rostron, 6. Nikko Boxall, 7. Michal Doudera, 8. Gerard Garriga, 10. Dylan Manickum, 11. Ryan De Vries, 13. Nathan Lobo, 14. Shan Anand, 15. Jeremy Foo, 17. Ryan Watson, 19. Rhys Davies, 18. Ari Prasad (GK), 20. Pavel Osmanick, 21. Bono Kacurov, 23. Alfie Rogers, 24. Matt Foord (GK), 25. Mike den Heijer, 26. Matt Ellis, 27. Tom Golding, 30. Ari Prasad.
Staff
Head coach: Rudy Mozr
Assistant coach: Ivan Vicelich
Assistant coach: Alan Shaker
Goalkeeper coach: Adam Bannister
Trainer: Karlo Pavic
Physio: Matt Payne
Physio: Zara Ellis
Team manager: Keith Coton
How to watch
Games at the OFC Champions League will be streamed by DAZN.
You can watch by signing in to DAZN with a FIFA ID. If you don’t already have one, you can create a FIFA ID during sign-in.
Main photo: Auckland City prepare for their opening game in Fiji. Photo credit: Media Auckland City.
Acknowlegement
We thank Auckland City and OFC Media for providing information for this story.
Fixtures
Games to be played on Sunday August 9, 2026
Group B
Lae City (PNG) v Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands)
Govind Park, Ba, 12pm (NZT)
Galaxy (Vanuatu) v Rewa (Fiji)
Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Monday August 10, 2026
Group A
AS Venus (Tahiti) v AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia)
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 12pm (NZT)
Central Coast (Solomon Islands) v Auckland City (NZ)
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 3pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Wednesday August 12, 2026
Group B
Rewa (Fiji) v Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands)
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 4pm (NZT)
Lae City (PNG) v Galaxy (Vanuatu)
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 7pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Thursday August 13, 2026
Group A
AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia) v Auckland City (NZ)
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 12pm (NZT)
Central Coast (Solomon Islands) v AS Venus (Tahiti)
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 3pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Saturday August 15, 2026
Group B
Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands) v Galaxy (Vanuatu)
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba,, 12pm (NZT)
Rewa (Fiji) v Lae City (PNG)
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Sunday August 16, 2026
Group A
Auckland City (NZ) v AS Venus (Tahiti)
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, 12pm (NZT)
AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia) v Central Coast (Solomon Islands)
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, 3pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Wednesday August 19, 2026
Semi-finals
Winners Group A v Runners-up Group B
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)
Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 7pm (NZT)
Games to be played on Saturday August 22, 2026
Final
Winners Semi-final 1 v Winners Semi-final 2
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)
Past winners
The competition was known as the Oceania Club Championship from 1999-2006, after which it became the OFC Men’s Champions League.
1999
South Melbourne (Australia)
2001
Wollongong Wolves (Australia)
2005
Sydney FC (Australia)
2006
Auckland City (New Zealand
2007
Waitakere United (New Zealand)
2007-08
Waitakere United (New Zealand)
2008-09
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2009-10
Hekari United (Papua New Guinea)
2010-11
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2011-12
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2012-13
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2013-14
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2014-15
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2016
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2017
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2018
Team Wellington (New Zealand)
2019
Hienghène Sport (New Caledonia)
2020-21
No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2023
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2024
Auckland City (New Zealand)
2025
Auckland City (New Zealand)
This story was first published on August 9, 2026