Soccer-Football Australia decline license for Western United to return to A-League

Melbourne soccer club Western United ​are set for another ​year on the A-League ‌sidelines after ​a Football Australia committee declined to grant them a license for the 2026/27 season. The 2022 ‌champions were expelled from the Australian top flight last year amid financial problems and following a player registration ban from global governing body FIFA.

The ‌club's ownership group staved off liquidation after securing funds to pay ‌a tax debt by January but are being pursued by other creditors over unpaid debts, Australian media reported last month. Football Australia said on Tuesday its "First Instance Board" ⁠had ​approved licenses for ⁠the 12 existing A-League clubs for the 2026/27 season but not Western United.

"The FIB ⁠confirmed all current A-League teams, with the exception of Western United FC, ​have satisfied the mandatory criteria set out in the Regulations for ⁠A-Leagues club licensing purposes," FA said in a statement. Western United will have until Friday ⁠to ​appeal the decision.

The club said they were reviewing the determination and appeal rights but stopped short of saying whether they would ⁠seek to overturn it. "We can assure the community that work continues behind ⁠the scenes to ⁠stabilise the club and secure a long-term sustainable future for football in Melbourne's west," they said in ‌a statement.

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