Semiprofessional NPLM Victoria side Heidelberg United has confirmed it intends to pursue a place in the Asian Champions League 2, saying significant work is already underway to meet the assessment criteria required for continental competition, the club said in a statement.
The club were Australia Cup runners-up after losing to the Newcastle Jets in the final, and Football Australia told ESPN that Heidelberg would receive priority for the ACL2 slot allocated to the Cup winners if Newcastle went on to qualify for the expanded Asian Champions League Elite.
The report says Newcastle subsequently secured the A-League Men’s premiers plate, locking in their ACLE place and in doing so positioning Alexander to become the first Australian club from outside the top tier to play on the Asian stage. The AFC’s expansion of the ACLE for 2026-27 has not altered Heidelberg’s potential slot in the ACL2, with Adelaide United taking Australia’s place in the preliminary stage of the ACLE following those reforms, the report adds.
Heidelberg acknowledged that securing the ACL2 berth would require substantial financial commitment to satisfy strict licensing, commercial and infrastructure requirements. The club highlighted the need to find a suitable alternative to its Olympic Village home that meets AFC venue standards and said work is underway across licensing, infrastructure and operational areas to achieve compliance.
ESPN understands Football Australia had decided that Australia Cup runners-up would be prioritised for the ACL2 allocation before Heidelberg reached the final, a measure the federation viewed as reinforcing the Cup’s significance. The club also said there remain significant hurdles to clear before a place in the ACL2 can be confirmed and thanked members, supporters, partners and the broader community for their support.
Under coach John Anastasiadis, the Bergers currently sit third in the NPLM Victoria competition, three points behind top-of-the-table Oakleigh and one point behind South Melbourne, per the report.
