Western Australian AFL fans will have to wait until Round 2 to see their teams play at home, as the state misses out on hosting any games in the first two weeks of the 2026 season. The AFL’s Opening Round will focus on New South Wales and Queensland, with an additional game in Melbourne.
Both West Coast and Fremantle will be on the road for Round 1, as Perth’s Optus Stadium is taken over by the women’s Asian Cup. The 60,000-seat venue will host the Matildas’ tournament opener on March 1 and a semi-final on March 17, with tournament regulations requiring exclusive use from at least 10 days before the first match until two days after the last.
The AFL had the option to host a game in Bunbury under North Melbourne’s deal with the state government, but chose not to. Instead, Round 2 will feature two games at Optus Stadium, with West Coast likely to host the Kangaroos and Fremantle reportedly set to face Melbourne. North Melbourne will return to Perth later in the year for the Bunbury game and another in Perth.
The Asian Cup also affects the NRL draw, with Penrith, Parramatta, Canterbury, and South Sydney without home grounds for the opening three rounds due to stadium use in Sydney and Gold Coast. The A-League’s Perth Glory will be on the road for a month from late February, returning to HBF Park on March 22.
Victoria declined to bid for Asian Cup matches, with the AFL and Ed Sheeran concerts taking priority at the MCG and Marvel Stadium, while AAMI Park was overlooked despite hosting World Cup matches.
