The eight founding teams for the league were Adelaide United, Central Coast Mariners, Melbourne Victory, Newcastle Jets, New Zealand Knights, Perth Glory, Queensland Roar and Sydney FC, with four former NSL clubs taking part, those being Adelaide United, Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory, as well as NSL club Brisbane Lions who withdrew their first team from the Queensland State league and entered it in to the competition as Queensland Roar plus New Zealand Knights who were formed from New Zealand Football Kingz. Each club was given a five-year exclusivity deal in its own market as part of the league's "one-city, one-team" policy. This was intended to allow clubs to grow and develop an identity in their respective region without local competition.