![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Rudy-Mozr-256.jpg\")
Head coach Rudy Mozr \u2026 will lead City\u2019s title defence.<\/p>\nNew Zealand national club champions Auckland City are ready to chase their 14th OFC Men\u2019s Champions League title, and their fifth in a row.<\/p>\n
The Navy Blues start their 2026 campaign on Monday when they face Solomon Islands\u2019 Central Coast in Group A of the eight-team tournament in Fiji.<\/p>\n
The Aucklanders, who have only ever lost nine matches in the competition, are unbeaten in 27 fixtures dating back to the 2019 semi-finals.<\/p>\n
Head coach Rudy Mozr says City have arrived in Fiji with a positive attitude, and a squad that\u2019s healthyu and ready to play.<\/p>\n
Captain Mario Ilich says it\u2019s important his team gets off to a good start in their opening group game.<\/p>\n
\u201cSolomon teams are very technical; they like to keep the ball. It should be a great game for the neutral, but we\u2019ll look to get a grip early and keep possession. It\u2019s really important to start well in these competitions \u2014 it sets you up for the rest of the group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Strong squad named by Auckland City<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s OFC Champions League squad include long\u2011serving Navy Blues, returning players, new arrivals who have already made an impact, and emerging talent stepping onto the continental stage for the first time.<\/p>\n
Captain Mario Ilich, Ryan De Vries, Dylan Manickum, Alfie Rogers, and Gerard Garriga form the backbone of the group \u2014 long\u2011serving Navy Blues who have shaped the club\u2019s identity across domestic titles, continental campaigns, and international tournaments.<\/p>\n
A significant part of the squad also carries deep Navy Blues experience, including FIFA Club World Cup involvement with Auckland City.<\/p>\n
Christian Gray, Jeremy Foo, Nikko Boxall, Michael den Heijer, Nathan Lobo, and Matt Ellis were all part of last year\u2019s global campaign, bringing valuable international exposure and big\u2011game temperament.<\/p>\n
Within that group, Gray, den Heijer, Lobo, and Ellis arrive sharpened by their recent stint in the OFC Pro League.<\/p>\n
The Czech duo \u2014 Michal Doudera and Pavel Osmancik \u2014 have already made a notable impact with their European sharpness and tactical maturity.<\/p>\n
Head coach Rudy Mozr \u2026 will lead City\u2019s title defence.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s evolving team structure.<\/p>\n
Bono Kacurov, stepping up from the U\u201123s, earns his place in the travelling squad after a strong domestic campaign and continued development within the club\u2019s pathway.<\/p>\n
In goal, new signing Matthew Foord, also from Pro League side Bula, will be supported by Cam Brown and Ari Prasad.<\/p>\n
Some City players will miss the tournament through work commitments or private life responsibilities \u2014 these include vice captain Adam Mitchell, Angus Kilkolly, Regent Murati and Tong Zhou.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, a few players weren\u2019t available for selection due to work commitments and not being able to take the required time away. Of course, that\u2019s not ideal, and we would have loved to have everyone available, but it\u2019s also the reality of the environment we operate in and something we have to respect and deal with,\u201d coach Mozr said.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: Challengers out to topple Auckland City in new-look OFC Champions League<\/a> >>>><\/p>\n Squad<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Staff<\/p>\n Head coach: Rudy Mozr How to watch<\/p>\n Games at the OFC Champions League will be streamed by DAZN.<\/p>\n You can watch by signing in to DAZN with a FIFA ID. If you don\u2019t already have one, you can create a FIFA ID during sign-in.<\/p>\n Main photo: Auckland City prepare for their opening game in Fiji. Photo credit: Media Auckland City.<\/p>\n Acknowlegement<\/p>\n We thank Auckland City and OFC Media for providing information for this story.<\/p>\n Fixtures<\/p>\n Games to be played on Sunday August 9, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Group B<\/p>\n Lae City (PNG) v Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands) Galaxy (Vanuatu) v Rewa (Fiji) Games to be played on Monday August 10, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Group A<\/p>\n AS Venus (Tahiti) v AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia) Central Coast (Solomon Islands) v Auckland City (NZ) Games to be played on Wednesday August 12, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Group B<\/p>\n Rewa (Fiji) v Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands) Lae City (PNG) v Galaxy (Vanuatu) Games to be played on Thursday August 13, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Group A<\/p>\n AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia) v Auckland City (NZ) Central Coast (Solomon Islands) v AS Venus (Tahiti) Games to be played on Saturday August 15, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Group B<\/p>\n Tupapa Maraerenga (Cook Islands) v Galaxy (Vanuatu) Rewa (Fiji) v Lae City (PNG)\u00a0 Games to be played on Sunday August 16, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Group A<\/p>\n Auckland City (NZ) v AS Venus (Tahiti) AS Tiga Sport (New Caledonia) v Central Coast (Solomon Islands) Games to be played on Wednesday August 19, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Semi-finals<\/p>\n Winners Group A v Runners-up Group B Winners Group B v Runners-up Group A Games to be played on Saturday August 22, 2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Final<\/p>\n Winners Semi-final 1 v Winners Semi-final 2 Past winners<\/p>\n The competition was known as the Oceania Club Championship from 1999-2006, after which it became the OFC Men\u2019s Champions League.<\/p>\n 1999 2001 2005 2006 2007 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020-21 2022 2023 2024 2025 This story was first published on August 9, 2026<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Watch-stream-00002.png\")
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Govind Park, Ba, 12pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786254392_42_FOF-weekday-Monday.jpg\")
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Churchill Park, Lautoka, 12pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FOF-Weekday-Wednesday.jpg\")
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Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 4pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 7pm (NZT)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786254393_48_FOF-Weekday-Thursday.jpg\")
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Churchill Park, Lautoka, 12pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/FOF-Weekday-Saturday.jpg\")
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Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba,, 12pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, 12pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 7pm (NZT)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Four R Stadium, Govind Park, Ba, 3pm (NZT)<\/p>\n
South Melbourne (Australia)<\/p>\n
Wollongong Wolves (Australia)<\/p>\n
Sydney FC (Australia)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand<\/p>\n
Waitakere United (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Waitakere United (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Hekari United (Papua New Guinea)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Team Wellington (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Hiengh\u00e8ne Sport (New Caledonia)<\/p>\n
No competition due to COVID-19 pandemic<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/p>\n
Auckland City (New Zealand)<\/a><\/p>\n