auckland set to ignite for 2026 tackle test matches

Following on from the inaugural Festival of Football held on the Gold Coast last year, the Australian national tackle teams are set to face New Zealand again in 2026.

This time the New Zealand American Football Federation (NZAFF) will welcome the Australian teams to Auckland for 3 tackle test matches as part of the 2026 Festival of Football.

Australia's U16 and U18 junior tackle teams will again be lead by Head Coach, Mitch Woellner and the Men's team is lead by returning Head Coach, Pete Breuer.

After convincing wins for the Australian U16 and U18 teams in 2025, this year they are set to face the inaugural NZ U16 team for the first time with the junior development pathways now expanded in NZ as part of the annual tackle test match series between our federations.

After a close and fiercely competitive match for the men last year, no doubt NZ will be chasing redemption on home soil.

It all goes down this July in Auckland, event details below:

Date: Saturday 11 July 2026

Location: The Trusts Stadium, Auckland NZ

Game times:

U16 - 9:00am NZ | 7:00am AEST

U18 - 12:00pm NZ | 10:00am AEST

Men - 3:00pm NZ | 1:00pm AEST

Livestream details will be shared via AFA's social media in the lead up to the event and for everyone heading to Auckland you can purchase tickets via NZAFF's event link here.

From junior development to international competition, this festival is more than football—it celebrates community, strengthens our partnership across Oceania and creates pathways for athletes to wear the green and gold in tackle football.