 | |
| Organising body | Football Australia |
|---|---|
| Founded | 24 February 2014 (As FFA Cup) |
| Region |  Australia New Zealand |
| Number of teams | 759 (in 2024) |
| Qualifier for | AFC Champions League Two |
| Current champions | Macarthur FC (2nd title) |
| Most successful club(s) | Adelaide United (3 titles) |
| Television broadcasters |
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| Website | www |
 2024 Australia Cup | |
The Australia Cup[a] 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.[2] 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.[3]
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 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. Macarthur FC are the defending champions after defeating Melbourne Victory in the 2024 final for their second Australia Cup title.
- ^ "'Australia Cup' name to return to Australia's largest national knockout football competition". Football Australia. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ^ 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.
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