Football Federation Australia will push the climax of the A-League season to its latest ever finish, with a May grand final next year bringing the competition end into line with the European season - but potentially causing significant scheduling headaches with the competing local winter codes.

Having held its grand final in February as recently as 2009, the league has gradually been pushing back the season finale ever since, jumping a full month, from March 13 in 2011 to April 22 this year. Now the FFA is hoping to schedule its next grand final as close as possible to the May 15 cut-off date for domestic competitions mandated by FIFA.

The motivation for the late finish is so the growing number of Socceroos who play in the A-League will be match-fit leading up to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which kicks off on June 12 - even if qualification for the game's showpiece remains a tenuous proposition.

Despite finishing several weeks later than last season, the 2013-14 season will begin just a week later, on October 11. While there will be no international breaks, an occasional week off will be rotated among the clubs.

Having already experienced significant venue congestion last season - especially in the finals - A-League chiefs may find next year an even tighter squeeze come play-offs time, given the late-autumn finale.