Australia Cup
Organising body | Football Australia |
---|---|
Founded | 24 February 2014 |
Region | Australia New Zealand |
Number of teams | 761 (in 2024) |
Qualifier for | AFC Champions League 2 |
Current champions | Sydney FC (2nd title) |
Most successful club(s) | Adelaide United (3 titles) |
Television broadcasters |
|
Website | www |
2024 Australia Cup preliminary rounds 2024 Australia Cup |
The Australia Cup[a] is the national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. This annual competition is organised by Football Australia, formerly known as Football Federation Australia until 2020.
The Australia Cup comprises teams from the top division,
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 2 from 2024–25 onwards), unless Wellington Phoenix are the winner.[4][b]
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. Sydney FC are the defending champions after defeating Brisbane Roar in the 2023 final.
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
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.[6][7] 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.[8] On 14 October 2013, FFA announced that it had appointed Sam Chadwick as General Manager of the FFA Cup.[9] On 24 February 2014, the FFA Cup was formally launched by David Gallop.[10]
The first member federation club to qualify for the FFA Cup was
In late 2020 the FFA announced that future winners of the cup would earn an
The 2020 competition was cancelled on 3 July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.[15] This on-going pandemic caused further disruptions to both the preliminary rounds and the main competition in 2021.[16][17]
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.
Eligibility
Up to and including the 2019 edition, the 32 teams that make up the Australia Cup competition proper have been the 10
The number of clubs representing each federation is determined by player registration numbers in each jurisdiction and reviewed annually. Teams from the Northern Territory have been represented since 2015.[20]
From 2015 to 2021, the National Premier Leagues Champion of the previous year qualified for the FFA Cup Round of 32. The first club to qualify via this method was North Eastern MetroStars from South Australia who won the 2014 National Premier Leagues Finals Series.[21] Since 2022, as there is no longer an NPL Champion, an additional slot was allocated to Victoria.[22]
Federation | Associated Competition | Round of 32 Qualifiers | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | ||
Football Australia | A-League Men | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
National Premier Leagues | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | |
Capital Football (ACT) | Federation Cup (ACT) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Northern NSW Football | NNSWF State Cup | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Football NSW | Waratah Cup | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Football Northern Territory | NT FFA Cup Final | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Football Queensland | From 2024, the Kappa Queensland Cup[23][c] | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Football South Australia | Federation Cup (SA) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Football Tasmania | Milan Lakoseljac Cup | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Football Victoria | Dockerty Cup | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Football West (WA) | State Cup | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Total Entrants | 631 | 648 | 704 | 735 | 781 | 736 | 765 | 765 | 750 | 778 | 761 |
Competition format
The competition proper is a 32-team
Up until the 2019 edition, all A-League teams entered at the Round of 32. From 2021, only the top eight placed A-League Men clubs for the previous season gain automatic qualification, with the remaining four teams subject to a play-off series for the remaining two positions.[25]
From 2022 an open draw for each round is made from the Round of 32 to the Semi-Finals, with home ground preference given to Member Federation Clubs where they are drawn against A-League opposition.[26] In 2021 there was a restricted draw for the Round of 32 and Round of 16, split into different geographic zones to minimise travel requirements.[12] In prior years, the draw was made to ensure that there would be some progression of Member Federation Clubs to later rounds, including one Member Federation club guaranteed to make the Semi Final.[18] Wellington Phoenix have additional restrictions imposed as they are a New Zealand-based team, and must play all of their matches in Australia, away from home.[26]
Final
The inaugural
Trophy
At the end of the final, the winning team is presented with a trophy, known as the "FFA Cup Trophy", which they will hold until the following year's final.
The trophy is a large traditional style cup with an intentional resemblance to the historical Australia Cup trophy which ran from 1962 to 1968.[28] The cup itself is made from silver-soldered brass, which is plated with 24 carat gold and sterling silver.[29] It has two handles which each have the badge of Football Federation Australia inscribed on the inside corners. Also inscribed on the cup is the design of the cup and the words FFA Cup. The trophy features two soccer balls, one as the base of the cup and the other as a trim, on the very top of the cup lid.
The FFA Cup Trophy was created by D3 Design, who also designed the
Sponsorship
In its inaugural season the FFA Cup joined with an official naming rights partner. In 2014, Westfield Group was announced as the sponsor for the first three seasons of the cup tournament, known for commercial purposes as the "Westfield FFA Cup".[30]
Between 2014 and 2016 Umbro supplied match balls for all FFA Cup matches.[30] The FFA Cup Match Ball, the Umbro Neo 150 Elite, was specially designed for the competition.[31] Between 2017 and 2019 Mitre supplied the Mitre Delta Hyperseam as the official FFA Cup match ball after a public vote to select between three alternate ball designs.[32] After the cancellation of the 2020 competition, Mitre introduced the Mitre Delta Max for the 2021 FFA Cup.[33] After using the Delta Max for the 2022 competition, the Ultimax Pro was chosen to replace it for 2023.[34]
Records and statistics
Team records
Final
- Most wins: 3, 2019).
- Most consecutive wins: 2, 2019).
- Most appearances in the final: 4, 2018, 2023)
- Most consecutive appearances in the final: 3, 2018).
- Biggest win: 2019 FFA Cup Final, 23 October 2019).
Round of 32 onwards
- Biggest win: Darwin Rovers 0–8 Sydney FC, (Round of 32, 2 August 2017).
- Biggest home win: Lions FC 6–0 Casuarina FC, (Round of 32, 21 September 2021)
- Most clubs competing in a season: 781, (2018)
- Highest scoring: 9,
- , 26 July 2017).
- Far North Queensland, (Round of 32, 9 August 2017).
- Highest attendance: 18,751, 2016 FFA Cup Final, 30 November 2016).
- Lowest attendance: 327, Bonnyrigg White Eagles v. Manly United, (Round of 32, 3 August 2016).
Preliminary rounds
- Biggest win and highest scoring: 31,
- Teviot Downs 0–31 Bayside United, (Second round, 2 March 2019).[35]
Individual records
Final
- Most wins by a player: 3,
- 2019).
- 2019).
- Most appearances: 4, 2019).
- Youngest goalscorer in a final: 19 years and 148 days, Final, 23 October 2019).
Round of 32 onwards
- Most career goals: 12, Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory, between 2014 and 2017).
- Most goals in a season: 8, Bobô (Sydney FC, 2017).
- Most goals in a game: 5, Lachlan Brook (for Western Sydney Wanderers v. Floreat Athena, Round of 32, 9 August 2023).
- Fastest goal: 26 seconds, Daniel Heffernan (for Heidelberg United v. Sydney United 58, Round of 16, 26 August 2015).
- Fastest hat-trick: 18 minutes, Palm Beach Sharks, Quarter-finals, 14 October 2014).
- Youngest goalscorer: 15 years and 193 days, Sydney United 58, Round of 16, 26 August 2023).
- Youngest player: 13 years and 243 days, Oakleigh Cannons v. Macarthur FC, Semi-finals, 14 September 2022).
- Oldest goalscorer: 42 years and 120 days, Daniel McBreen (for Edgeworth FC v. Central Coast Mariners, Round of 16, 21 August 2019).
- Oldest player: 42 years and 120 days, Daniel McBreen (for Edgeworth FC v. Central Coast Mariners, Round of 16, 21 August 2019).
Preliminary rounds
- Fastest goal: 11.2 seconds, Shaun Robinson (for Nerang Soccer Club v. Bribie Island Tigers FC, Second round, 13 February 2021).[37]
- Most goals in a game: 14, Albion Park White Eagles v. Epping FC, Second round, 14 March 2020).[38]
Winners and finalists
List of finals
Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Venue | City/Town | Attendance | Qualification to |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | Adelaide United | 1–0
|
Perth Glory | Hindmarsh Stadium | Adelaide | 16,142 | — |
2015 | Melbourne Victory | 2–0
|
Perth Glory | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | Melbourne | 15,098 | — |
2016 | Melbourne City | 1–0
|
Sydney FC | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | Melbourne | 18,751 | — |
2017 | Sydney FC | a.e.t. )
|
Adelaide United | Sydney Football Stadium | Sydney | 13,452 | — |
2018 | Adelaide United | 2–1
|
Sydney FC | Hindmarsh Stadium | Adelaide | 14,448 | — |
2019 | Adelaide United | 4–0
|
Melbourne City | Hindmarsh Stadium | Adelaide | 14,920 | — |
2020 | Tournament cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia[15] | ||||||
2021 | Melbourne Victory | 2–1
|
Central Coast Mariners | Melbourne Rectangular Stadium | Melbourne | 15,343 | 2022 AFC Champions League play-off round |
2022 | Macarthur FC | 2–0
|
Sydney United 58 | Western Sydney Stadium | Sydney | 16,461 | 2023–24 AFC Cup group stage |
2023 | Sydney FC | 3–1 | Brisbane Roar | Sydney Football Stadium | Sydney | 15,482 | 2024–25 AFC Champions League 2 group stage |
Results by team
Since its establishment, the Australia Cup has been won by 5 different teams, and 9 different teams have contested in the final.
Club | Titles | Runners-up | Seasons Won | Seasons Runners-up | Total final appearances |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide United | 3 | 1 | 2019
|
2017
|
4 |
Sydney FC | 2 | 2 | 2017, 2023
|
2018
|
4 |
Melbourne Victory | 2 | 0 | 2021
|
— | 2 |
Melbourne City | 1 | 1 | 2016
|
2019
|
2 |
Macarthur FC | 1 | 0 | 2022
|
— | 1 |
Perth Glory | 0 | 2 | — | 2015
|
2 |
Central Coast Mariners | 0 | 1 | — | 2021
|
1 |
Sydney United 58 | 0 | 1 | — | 2022
|
1 |
Brisbane Roar | 0 | 1 | — | 2023 | 1 |
Individual honours
Mark Viduka Medal
The award given to the player of the match in each year's FFA Cup Final.
Year | Player/s | Club/s | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2014
|
Sergio Cirio | Adelaide United | [39] |
2015
|
Kosta Barbarouses | Melbourne Victory | [40] |
2016
|
Bruno Fornaroli | Melbourne City | [41] |
2017
|
Adrian Mierzejewski | Sydney FC | [42] |
2018
|
Craig Goodwin | Adelaide United | [43] |
2019
|
Al Hassan Toure | Adelaide United | [44] |
2020 | No competition | [15] | |
2021
|
Jake Brimmer Kye Rowles[d] |
Melbourne Victory Central Coast Mariners |
[45] |
2022
|
Ulises Dávila | Macarthur FC | [46] |
2023 | Joe Lolley | Sydney FC |
Michael Cockerill Medal
Named after the late former journalist and broadcaster, the Michael Cockerill Medal recognizes the tournament's standout performer from a Member Federation Club.[47]
Year | Player | Club | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Elvis Kamsoba | Avondale FC | [47] |
2019 | Fraser Hills | Brisbane Strikers | [48] |
2020 | No competition | [15] | |
2021 | Finn Beakhurst | Lions FC | [49] |
2022 | Joe Guest | Oakleigh Cannons | [50] |
2023 | Hamish Gow | North Eastern MetroStars | [51] |
Media coverage
In the tournament's first season, 10 matches were broadcast live on
In 2015 and 2016 Fox Sports streamed live all non-broadcast games via their online services.[54][55]
From 2017 onwards, 5 FFA Cup matches (from quarter finals) were broadcast live by
From 2018, at least 1 FFA Cup match per round was scheduled to be broadcast live by ESPN+ in the United States[56] and in other countries where the rights were not sold, most of the matches were streamed live by YouTube via My Football channel.
In 2017 the ABC held the Radio broadcast rights for FFA Cup matches, including the Final.[57]
In 2021 Network 10 and Paramount+ obtained the TV broadcast rights for the next 5 years, starting from the round of 32 of the FFA Cup/Australia Cup all the way until the finals.[58]
Current broadcasters
Territory | Network | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Australia | Network 10 | [58] |
Paramount+ | [59] | |
Austria | Sportdigital | [59] |
Belize | ESPN | [59] |
Canada | TSN | [56] |
China PR | KBALL | [59] |
Germany | Sportdigital | [59] |
Guyana | ESPN | [59] |
Hong Kong | MYTV Super | [59] |
Jamaica | ESPN | [59] |
Macau | Macau Cable | [59] |
Myanmar | Sky Net | [59] |
New Zealand | TBD | |
Suriname | ESPN | [59] |
Switzerland | Sportdigital | [59] |
Taiwan | Sportcast | [59] |
United States | ESPN | [56] |
Vietnam | VIEON | [59] |
beIN Sports | [59] | |
Australia TV
|
[59] | |
Pasifika TV | [59] | |
ESPN | [59] | |
Flow Sports | [59] | |
BT Sport
|
[59] |
Women's Australia Cup
In March 2023, Football Australia announced that it will be launching a
See also
Notes
- ^ known as the FFA Cup until the 2021 season[1]
- ^ Wellington cannot qualify for AFC competitions since they come from New Zealand, which is part of the Oceania Football Confederation
- ^ Previously linked with the Brisbane-based Canale Cup.
- ^ Player on the losing team
References
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- ^ D'Alfonso, Daniel (3 June 2011). "FFA Cup to embrace country teams". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ "FFA Cup to introduce Hyundai A-League play-off process from 2020". Football Australia. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ "How the FFA Cup playoffs for A-League clubs work". Football Australia. 6 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
- Football Federation Australia.
- Football Federation Australia. Archived from the originalon 31 December 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Smithies, Tom (7 August 2012). "FFA Cup on hold due to cost concerns". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- Football Federation Australia. Archived from the originalon 15 December 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- Football Federation Australia. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ Gorman, Joe (24 February 2014). "Will the FFA Cup help Australia's 'old soccer' clubs?". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- ^ "Tuggeranong United gets nod for FFA Cup". The Canberra Times. 23 February 2014. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Open draw, ACL slot for winner among changes as FFA Cup returns". The World Game. SBS. 2 December 2020.
- ^ "AFC Executive Committee unveils dynamic enhancements to the AFC Club Competitions". the-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
- ^ "A big AFC change has sparked a new A-Leagues table scramble: How it works". Australian Professional Leagues. 30 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Coronavirus forces FFA Cup to be cancelled". The World Game. SBS. 7 July 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "FFA Cup round 5 Fixture Postponement". Football Australia. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "FFA Cup 2021 Fixture Update". Football Australia. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "FFA Cup How Draw Works". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016.
- ^ "Stand-alone Final and AFC Champions League prize to headline rebooted FFA Cup in 2021". Football Australia. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b Weiner, David (2013). "Football Federation Australia reveals new FFA Cup competition and trophy". Fox Sports. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- ^ "Cup spot the reward in PS4 NPL Finals Series". footballaustralia.com.au. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Final Rounds slot allocations for Australia Cup 2022 confirmed". Football Australia. 23 February 2022. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
- ^ "KAPPA QUEENSLAND CUP". Football Queensland. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Competition Rules 2020 - Annexure 29 FFA Cup WA Preliminary Rounds" (PDF). Football West. Retrieved 13 March 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Stand-alone Final and AFC Champions League prize to headline rebooted FFA Cup in 2021". Football Federation Australia. 1 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Australia Cup 2022 Key Dates Confirmed". Football Australia. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
- ^ "Saturday night final for Westfield FFA Cup in 2015". Football Federation Australia. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
- ^ Bossi, Dominic (24 February 2014). "FFA Cup: Minnows get a shot at A-League clubs". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- ^ a b "EPL trophy influenced FFA Cup design". Football Federation Australia. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ Football Federation Australia. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- Football Federation Australia. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ "Vote on the new Mitre Westfield FFA Cup ball". Football Federation Australia. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "Introducing the new Mitre Australia ball for the FFA Cup 2021". Football Federation Australia. 6 June 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
- ^ "The Mitre Ultimax Pro, the official match ball of the Australia Cup 2023 featuring entrant clubs listed on each panel". Football Australia. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "FFA Cup Match Center – Teviot Downs SC 0–31 Bayside United FC". sportstg.com. 2 March 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ^ "FFA Cup Match Center – Albion Park White Eagles 31–0 Epping FC". sportstg.com. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
- ^ "Fastest goal scored in FFA Cup history". Football Australia. 15 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- Football New South Wales. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- ^ "Adelaide United's Sergio Cirio winner of the FFA Cup 'treble'". Fox Sports. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
- ^ Lynch, Michael (7 November 2015). "Melbourne Victory get better of Perth Glory to win FFA Cup". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Fornaroli claims medal for FFA Cup show". SBS. 30 November 2016.
- ^ Kemp, Emma (21 November 2017). "Mierzejewski awarded Mark Viduka Medal". ESPN FC.
- ^ Gatt, Ray (30 October 2018). "FFA Cup final: Craig Goodwin strikes gold for Reds". The Australian.
- ^ "Dream comes true for Al Hassan Toure as Adelaide lift FFA Cup again". The Guardian. 23 October 2019.
- ^ Harrington, Anna (5 February 2022). "Popovic delights in Victory FFA Cup glory". Seven News.
For the first time, the Mark Viduka Medal for player of the match was a tie, with Victory midfielder Jake Brimmer and Mariners defender Kye Rowles, who only returned from his first Socceroos call-up on Friday, sharing the honour.
- ^ Rugari, Vince (1 October 2022). "Macarthur FC dedicate Australia Cup trophy to grieving captain Davila". The Sydney Morning Herald.
Macarthur FC have dedicated their Australia Cup triumph to their grieving skipper Ulises Davila, who won the Mark Viduka Medal for best afield in Saturday night's final just four months after the sudden death of his wife - and then gave it straight to the club as a gesture of appreciation.
- ^ Football Federation Australia. 20 October 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ Rayson, Zac (23 October 2019). "Brisbane Strikers star Fraser Hills awarded Mike Cockerill Medal - can he reach the A-League?". Fox Sports. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- FFA Cup [@FFACup] (5 February 2022). "Presenting your FFA Cup 2021 Mike Cockerill Medalist: Finn Beakhurst from @lionsfc1" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Australia Cup [@AustraliaCup] (1 October 2022). ".@oakcannonsfc Joe Guest is the 2022 Mike Cockerill Medalist" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Australia Cup (7 October 2023). "Congratulations to MetroStars' Hamish Gow for being awarded the 2023 Mike Cockerill Medal!". Facebook.
- ^ "2014 FFA Cup FAQs". Football Federation Australia. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
- Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
- Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
- ^ a b c "ESPN". 16 August 2018.
- ^ "News". 19 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Football Australia reaches landmark media rights agreement with 10 ViacomCBS". Football Australia. 15 June 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "How to watch the Australia Cup". Football Australia. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ Lewis, Samantha. "Football Australia to launch Women's Australia Cup in 2024 as part of Women's World Cup legacy". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 7 October 2023.