The AFL 2026 Preliminary Final between Sydney and Fremantle is set for Friday, 18 September, with a kickoff at 7:40pm AEST (Sydney time). For viewers in the United States, this will be at 5:40am ET and 2:40am PT, while UK audiences will see the match at 10:40am BST. The game will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), with the winner advancing to the AFL 2026 Grand Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Saturday, 26 September. There, they will face either Hawthorn or Brisbane, who will have played in the other Preliminary Final. Sydney, having taken a week off after defeating Brisbane in their Qualifying Final, is looking to reach the Grand Final for the second time in three years. However, they are missing their captain, Callum Mills, who suffered an ACL rupture in the match against Brisbane. Justin McInerney may return to training and could be available for selection. Fremantle, who are the minor premiers, secured their spot in the Preliminary Final with a dramatic Semi-Final victory over Geelong. The Dockers may benefit from the return of key defender Brennan Cox, while Brandon Walker is hoping to join the team after recovering from an ankle injury. In Australia, the match will be broadcast for free on free-to-air Channel 7 and via the 7Plus streaming service. To access 7Plus, viewers need a valid Australian postcode. International fans can use a virtual private network (VPN) to access 7Plus from abroad. NordVPN is often recommended for this purpose, and it currently offers promotions with up to 75% off. In the United States, the game will be shown on FS2, available through platforms like Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV, all of which offer free trials for new users. In the UK, TNT Sports is the broadcast partner, and the channel can be accessed through Sky, Virgin Media, EE TV, or HBO Max, which starts at £25.99 per month for a yearly commitment. Canadian viewers can watch the match on TSN, with TSN Plus available for CA$24.99 per month for streaming access. Most broadcasters also offer mobile viewing options through their streaming apps or via mobile browsers, such as the 7Plus app.