The AFL 2026 Qualifying Final will take place at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), where the Sydney Swans will host the Brisbane Lions on Saturday, September 5. The game is set to kick off at 3:15pm local time in Sydney (AEST), which translates to 1:15am Eastern Time (ET) in the United States, 6:15am British Summer Time (BST) in the UK, and 1:15pm Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) in Western Australia. Brisbane is aiming to win their third consecutive AFL premiership, having dominated the season with 10 wins in their last 11 games, averaging a commanding 48 points per match. They finished third on the ladder and previously beat Sydney in the 2024 AFL Grand Final at the MCG. The Lions have a strong head-to-head record against Sydney, including a win in their Round 16 clash at the Gabba. Co-captain Hugh McCluggage is expected to return from injury, bolstering Brisbane’s lineup for the crucial match. Sydney, who finished second on the ladder, will face challenges due to several key players being sidelined by suspensions and injuries. Notable absentees include Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, Riley Bice, and Joel Amartey. Despite a slightly better head-to-head record against Brisbane (32 wins to 30), Sydney’s performance against top teams has been inconsistent, with only one win in six games this season against the top six sides. Viewers in Australia can watch the match on free-to-air Channel 7 or through the 7Plus streaming service. International fans can use a virtual private network (VPN) to access 7Plus as if they were in Australia. In the United States, the game will be broadcast on FS2, available via services like Fubo, YouTube TV, and Hulu + Live TV. In the UK, TNT Sports 1 will show the match, accessible through Sky, Virgin Media, EE TV, or HBO Max. In Canada, TSN2 will air the game, with a streaming option available through TSN Plus for CA$24.99 per month. The loser of the Qualifying Final will still have a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.