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Wikipedia - Australia Cup
The Australia Cup (currently known as the Hahn Australia Cup for sponsorship reasons) is the national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. This annual competition is organised by Football Australia, known as Football Federation Australia until 2020.
The Australia Cup comprises teams from the top division, A-League Men (known as simply the A-League before the 2021–22 season), as well as those from lower tiers in the Australian soccer league system. Teams enter in progressive stages, with qualifying rounds culminating with the competition proper, starting with the Round of 32. Each of the regional, state or territory-based member federation is granted a team allocation for entry into the main competition, joining clubs from A-League Men. Initially, all A-League Men's teams entered at the Round of 32; following the latest expansion of the league, the top eight teams enter at the Round of 32, while play-offs are conducted between the four lowest-ranked teams for the final two qualification slots.
Since 2021, the winner of the competition also qualifies for one of the play-off spots for the following years' AFC club competitions (the AFC Champions League for 2022, the AFC Cup for 2023–24, and the AFC Champions League Two from 2024–25 onwards), unless Wellington Phoenix or Auckland FC are the winner.
Since the Australian soccer league system provides no promotion and relegation mechanism between the first and lower divisions, part of the competition's appeal stems from the fact that it is the only way that A-League Men and lower-tier clubs can play formal competitive matches.
Adelaide United are the most successful team with three titles. Macarthur FC are the defending champions after defeating Melbourne Victory in the 2024 final for their second Australia Cup title.
History
Australia has a long history of regional and state-based knockout cup competitions. However, a sustainable national knockout cup competition that encompassed clubs on all levels of Australian league system has been hard to realise. Prior to the FFA Cup, the first and only Australian national knockout tournament was the Australia Cup. It was founded in 1962 but was abolished in 1968 after just seven seasons of competition. In 1977 a knockout competition called the NSL Cup was founded, which ran in parallel with the former National Soccer League (NSL). This competition involved Australian soccer clubs competing in the then top-flight NSL, plus a limited number of clubs from state-based competitions. The NSL Cup ceased after the 1996–97 tournament. An A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup competition ran between 2005 and 2008 but involved only the teams from the A-League Men and was not in a traditional knockout format.
The FFA Cup was previously scheduled to commence in 2013, though after suffering numerous delays due to FFA's 2012 television coverage deal and rising cost concerns the competition was put on hold. On 29 August 2013, it was announced that a national FFA Cup would commence in 2014, after what would be two years of organising the knock out competition. On 14 October 2013, FFA announced that it had appointed Sam Chadwick as General Manager of the FFA Cup. On 24 February 2014, the FFA Cup was formally launched by David Gallop.
The first member federation club to qualify for the FFA Cup was Tuggeranong United from the Australian Capital Territory. Tuggeranong United qualified for the 2014 FFA Cup as the winners of the 2013 ACT Federation Cup. The first games in the tournament proper occurred on 29 July 2014, with four games from the Round of 32 played concurrently. In 2014 former three time NSL Champions Adelaide City became the first semi-professional state-league club to defeat a professional A-League club, defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 1–0.
In late 2020 the FFA announced that future winners of the cup would earn an Asian Champions League preliminary round spot. However, this did not occur, in part because the competition was re-formatted and Australia lost some qualification slots for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League. Instead, Macarthur FC as the 2022 winner qualified for the 2023–24 AFC Cup.
The 2020 competition was cancelled on 3 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia. This on-going pandemic caused further disruptions to both the preliminary rounds and the main competition in 2021.
In 2022 Sydney United 58 became the first National Premier Leagues club to reach the final of the Australia Cup, defeating A-League Men's club Brisbane Roar in the semi-final.
The Australia FFA Cup Qualifying is an exhilarating and highly competitive tournament that serves as the gateway for grassroots and semi-professional soccer clubs across the nation to compete for a coveted spot in the prestigious FFA Cup. This annual event showcases the passion and talent of local teams, providing them with a unique opportunity to shine on a national stage.
Held in various regions throughout Australia, the qualifying rounds feature a diverse array of clubs, from community teams to state league sides, all vying for glory and the chance to represent their communities. The tournament format typically includes knockout rounds, where teams face off in high-stakes matches, creating an electric atmosphere filled with excitement and unpredictability.
The FFA Cup Qualifying not only highlights the rich tapestry of Australian soccer but also fosters community spirit, as fans rally behind their local clubs. Each match is a testament to the dedication and hard work of players, coaches, and supporters, making it a celebration of the sport at its grassroots level.
As teams battle for supremacy, the tournament also serves as a platform for emerging talent to showcase their skills, with scouts and coaches often in attendance, looking for the next big star. The winners of the qualifying rounds earn the right to compete in the FFA Cup proper, where they can face off against some of the top professional teams in the country, further elevating the stakes and excitement.
Join us in celebrating the spirit of Australian soccer at the FFA Cup Qualifying, where dreams are born, and local heroes are made!