The 2024 Australia Cup is powering on, with the final set to take place between two former champions.
It will be the Melbourne Victory under new coach Patrick Kisnorbo up against Macarthur FC, champions from two years ago,
The Sporting News brings you the key fixtures and matchups from the Australia Cup.
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Australia Cup Final fixture, schedule
The Australia Cup final will be played between the Melbourne Victory and Macarthur Bulls, who won the 2021 and 2022 version of the competition respectively.
The game will be played on Sunday, September 29 at AAMI Park in Melbourne. The game will kick off at 7:10 p.m. AEST.
The venue hosted the 2021 Australia Cup Final between the Victory and Central Coast Mariners, which the Victory won 2-0.
Australia Cup Semi-Final draw, fixtures, results
The semi-finals of this year's Australia Cup features three A-League sides who have won the tournament before, and South Melbourne, who are looking to become just the second semi-pro side to make the final after Sydney United in 2022.
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Victory 1-0 Adelaide United | Saturday, September 21 | 7:30pm | AAMI Park |
| South Melbourne FC 0-1 Macarthur FC | Sunday, September 22 | 6:00pm | Lakeside Stadium |
Australia Cup Quarter-Final draw, fixtures, results
The draw for the remaining rounds of the Australia cup were also made on August 7.
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hume City 2-3 South Melbourne | Wednesday, September 11 | 7:30pm | Hume City Stadium |
| Adelaide United 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers (AET) | Thursday, September 12 | 7:30pm | ServiceFM Stadium |
| Oakleigh Cannons 0-1 Macarthur FC | Saturday, September 14 | 3:00pm | Home of the Matildas |
| Moreton City Excelsior 0-4 Melbourne Victory | Saturday, September 14 | 6:00 | Perry Park |
Australia Cup Round of 16 draw, fixtures, results
The draw for the Round of 16 was made on August 7.
| Fixture | Date | Time (AEST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Jets 3-4 Macarthur FC | Sunday, August 25 | 3:00 p.m. | Maitland Regional Sportsground |
| South Melbourne 3-2 Olympic FC | Sunday, August 25 | 5:30 p.m. | Lakeside Stadium |
| Lions FC 0-4 Western Sydney Wanderers | Tuesday, August 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Luxury Paints Stadium |
| Hume City 1-0 FC Melbourne Srbija | Tuesday, August 27 | 7:30 p.m. | Hume City Stadium |
| Olympic Kingsway 2-3 Adelaide United | Tuesday August 27 | 8:30 p.m. | Kingsway Reserve |
| NWS Spirit 0-4 Melbourne Victory | Wednesday, August 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Christie Park |
| Moreton City Excelsior FC 3-2 Perth Glory FC | Wednesday, August 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Perry Park |
| Oakleigh Cannons 1-1 Heidelberg United (Oakleigh won 4-1 on penalties) | Wednesday, August 28 | 7:30 p.m. | Home of the Matildas |
Australia Cup Round of 32 draw, fixtures, results
The Round of 32 of the Australia Cup is now complete.
| Fixture | Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moreton City Excelsior 5-1 Campbelltown City SC | Tuesday July 30 | 7:00 p.m. AEST | Wolter Park |
| O'Connor Knights SC 1-2 Macarthur FC | Tuesday July 30 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | GIO Stadium |
| Darwin Hearts FC 0-6 Hume City | Tuesday July 30 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Darwin Football Stadium |
| Oakleigh Cannons FC 3-1 Sydney FC | Tuesday July 30 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Home of the Matildas |
| Blacktown City 2-3 Adelaide United | Wednesday July 31 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Landen Stadium |
| Brisbane City 1-2 Western Sydney Wanderers | Wednesday July 31 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Imperial Corp Stadium |
| Rockdale Ilinden FC 1-2 Newcastle Jets | Wednesday July 31 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre |
| Perth RedStar FC 1-4 Lions FC | Wednesday July 31 | 8:30 p.m. AEST | Percy Doyle Reserve |
| Perth Glory 5-4 Melbourne City | Saturday August 3 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Sam Kerr Football Centre |
| Lambton Jaffas 1-4 Melbourne Victory | Tuesday August 6 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Jack Macglaughlan Oval |
| South Melbourne FC 1-0 Wellington Phoenix FC | Tuesday August 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Lakeside Stadium |
| FC Melbourne Srbija 1(4)-1(1) Modbury Jets | Tuesday August 6 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Home of the Matildas |
| Olympic Kingsway 4-1 Edgeworth Eagles | Tuesday August 6 | 8:30 p.m. AEST | Kingsway Reserve |
| Heidelberg United 3-1 Central Coast Mariners | Wednesday August 7 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Olympic Village |
| NWS Spirit FC 3-0 Glenorchy Knights FC | Wednesday August 7 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Christie Park |
| Olympic FC 1-0 APIA Leichhardt FC | Wednesday August 7 | 7:30 p.m. AEST | Goodwin Park |
What is the Australia Cup and which clubs take part?
The Australia Cup is a knockout football competition pitting clubs from all around the country against each other.
10 of the 12 A-League Men's sides participate, while a series of preliminary rounds are held to decide the 22 member federation clubs who will be playing in that year's tournament.
The makeup of this year's competition and the qualified teams from each federation is listed below:
- Football Australia: 10 spots
- Capital Football: 1 spot
- Football NSW: 4 spots
- Northern NSW Football: 2 spots
- Football Northern Territory: 1 spot
- Football Queensland: 4 spots
- Football South Australia: 2 spots
- Football Tasmania: 1 spot
- Football Victoria: 5 spots
- Football West: 2 spots
How to watch 2024 Australia Cup: TV channel and live stream
Network 10 currently have the broadcast rights to the Australia Cup.
All games from the play-offs and round of 32 onwards can be streamed on 10 Play, while select matches — including the final — will also be shown on television via Channel 10 or 10 Bold.
Australia Cup prize money
Whilst the Australia Cup winners don't receive prize money as such, the reward they earn is valuable, with the winners qualifying for Asian continental competitions.
The 2021 winners Melbourne Victory were given a place in the 2021-22 AFC Asian Champions League play-offs, whilst the 2022 season's winners Macarthur qualified for the AFC Cup, where they fell in the quarter-finals to fellow Australian side and eventual winners Central Coast.
Sydney FC qualified for the 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two, with the winners of this year's competition qualifying for the 2025-26 version of the continental competition.
Why is it not called the FFA Cup?
The first seven editions of the tournament were called the FFA Cup, named after Football Federation Australia.
However after the federation changed their name to Football Australia, it was decided the cup competition needed a fresh name as well.
After consultation with fans and other key stakeholders, a new name for the tournament was coined, with the Australia Cup being the new name for Australia's premier football cup competition.
Australia Cup/FFA Cup past winners
| Year | Champion |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Sydney FC |
| 2022 | Macarthur |
| 2021 | Melbourne Victory |
| 2020* | N/A |
| 2019 | Adelaide United |
| 2018 | Adelaide United |
| 2017 | Sydney FC |
| 2016 | Melbourne City |
| 2015 | Melbourne Victory |
| 2014 | Adelaide United |
*Competition not contested due to COVID-19 pandemic