Australian soccer league system
The Australian soccer league system is the league structure for soccer clubs in Australia. The league system in Australia since 1977 has involved one top divisional league controlled by Football Australia and many leagues run within each state below.
The National Soccer League stood from 1977 to 2004 as the top nationwide tier above the current state-based league systems. In 2005, the A-League was established as its successor.
The introduction of the National Premier Leagues in 2013 introduced a direct second tier of soccer in Australia, underpinning the A-League. The NPL incorporated the existing state leagues as divisions with a nationwide end of season finals series, rebranding five of the nine top state leagues. The remainder – with the exception of the Northern Territory – joined in 2014.
There is no promotion and relegation to and from the top-tier A-League, and promotion and relegation at other levels varies between different state systems.