Established in 2004, Sydney FC is the most successful club in the history of the Hyundai A-League. Champion of the eight-team competition in its 2005/06 inaugural season, fifth representing Oceania in the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship and, after Australia's move into Asia, one of the country's sides in the 2007 AFC Champions League, Sydney FC is at the forefront of the football revolution.

Captained by former Manchester United superstar Dwight Yorke, Sydney FC won the first-ever Hyundai A-League Grand Final in front of a sell-out crowd at Aussie Stadium on March 5, 2006. More than 41,000 people saw Steve Corica net the only goal of the game as Sydney FC beat Central Coast Mariners 1-0 in the championship decider.

Sydney FC travelled to Japan midway through the Hyundai A-League's debut season so as to compete in the 2005 FIFA club World Championship as the Oceania Football Confederation's representative. Sydney FC acquitted itself and its region with distinction, defeating African Club of the century, Al Ahly of Egypt, 2-1 to finish the tournament in fifth.

Despite the departure of Dwight Yorke and the deduction of three points, Sydney FC qualified for the Hyundai A-League 2007 Finals Series. Sydney FC beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 in the first leg of the Hyundai A-League Minor Semi Final at Aussie Stadium but lost the return 2-0 to bow out.

Sydney FC had lost its crown but within a month it was making Australian football history once again. Strikes by Ufuk Talay and Corica enabled Sydney FC to defeat Shanghai Shenhua 2-1 in China and become the first Australian side to win a match in the AFC Champions League.