The club was formed in 1995 and joined the National Soccer League in the 1995–96 season.
Canberra Cosmos' first National Soccer League match was against Eastern Suburbs and they met their 18th and last different opponent, Newcastle United (now Newcastle Jets), for the first time in the 2000–01 National Soccer League season.
The teams that Canberra Cosmos played the most in league competition was Sydney Olympic and Sydney City, who they first met in the 1995–96 National Soccer League season; the 11 defeats from 15 meetings was more than they have lost against any other club.
Eastern Pride drew 6 league encounters with Canberra Cosmos, more than any other club.
Canberra Cosmos had recorded more league victories against Wollongong Wolves than against any other club, having beaten them 5 times out of 13 attempts.