AFL vs NFL:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, AFL had more branded searches than NFL among sports leagues in New Zealand. AFL was estimated to have 108K branded searches compared to NFL’s 77.9K, and held a 2.9% Share of Search versus NFL’s 2.1%.
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Which is more popular in search, AFL or NFL?
Compare the professional sports leagues New Zealand fans watch and follow. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for AFL, NFL. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | NRL | Premier League | A-League | AFL | NFL | NBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 14.4% | 24.8% | 15.2% | 0.52% | 16.8% | 28.2% |
| Nov 2025 | 3.5% | 24% | 16.2% | 0.27% | 14.9% | 41.1% |
| Dec 2025 | 1.8% | 30.8% | 20% | 0.13% | 14.3% | 33.1% |
| Jan 2026 | 2.2% | 27.8% | 19.9% | 0.16% | 16.9% | 33.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 10.7% | 34% | 21.2% | 0.32% | 3.4% | 30.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 34% | 23% | 14.5% | 1.8% | 0.61% | 26.2% |
| Apr 2026 | 38.4% | 19.1% | 11.9% | 2% | 0.91% | 27.7% |
| May 2026 | 33.8% | 20.9% | 10.8% | 1.7% | 0.28% | 32.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 56.7% | 1.3% | 0.86% | 2.4% | 0.57% | 38.2% |
| Jul 2026 | 85.2% | 3% | 1.8% | 4.2% | 0.72% | 5.1% |
| Aug 2026 | 76.1% | 11.5% | 5.7% | 2.9% | 2.1% | 1.8% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the AFL and NFL comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- The lead changed hands once in the 11 months ending August 2026: AFL took it in March 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, AFL’s estimated Share of Search among sports leagues in New Zealand moved from 0.52% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 13.3K to 108K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, NFL’s estimated Share of Search among sports leagues in New Zealand moved from 16.8% to 2.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 435K to 77.9K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand sports leagues in August 2026?
4 changes
In August 2026, Premier League overtook AFL to rank 2nd among sports leagues in New Zealand, at 11.5%.
In August 2026, A-League overtook AFL to rank 3rd among sports leagues in New Zealand, at 5.7%.
In August 2026, NFL overtook NBA to rank 5th among sports leagues in New Zealand, at 2.1%.
In August 2026, AFL lost estimated Share of Search among sports leagues in New Zealand, from 4.2% to 2.9%.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AFL’s and NFL’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
AFL
19 branded search terms
- afl
- afl collingwood
- afl com au
- afl draw
- afl fixture
- afl grand
- afl ladder
- afl live
- afl live scores
- afl match
- afl near me
- afl new zealand
- afl nz
- afl online
- afl results
- afl results today
- afl scores
- afl teams
- afl w
NFL
27 branded search terms
- cowboys nfl
- espn nfl draft
- nfl
- nfl com
- nfl denver broncos
- nfl draft
- nfl draw
- nfl fantasy
- nfl fixtures
- nfl games
- nfl games today
- nfl jerseys
- nfl ladder
- nfl live
- nfl near me
- nfl nz
- nfl online
- nfl players
- nfl preseason
- nfl pro bowl
- nfl scores
- nfl super bowl
- nfl teams
- nfl tickets
- nfl today
- nfl vikings
- r nfl
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.