2023 Waratah Cup

2023 Waratah Cup

Tournament details
Country	Australia (NSW)
Dates	14 June – 10 September (finals) 11 March – 6 June (prelim.)
Teams	4 (finals) 187 (prelim.)
Defending champions	NWS Spirit
Final positions
Champions	Sydney United 58
Runner-up	APIA Leichhardt

The 2023 Waratah Cup was the 21st season of the Football NSW's knockout competition. The four winners from the Australia Cup preliminary seventh round qualified for the Waratah Cup. NWS Spirit were the defending champions but were eliminated by the eventual winners Sydney United 58 in the seventh round. Sydney United won the cup, their seventh in history, against APIA Leichhardt in extra time.

Background

Preliminary round

Main article: 2023 Australia Cup preliminary rounds

The first draw was hosted in March 2023 at the headquarters of Football NSW and involved a total of 127 grassroots clubs (level 5) drawn for Rounds 2 and 3. Clubs from NSW League One and League Two were also included in the draw. The Round 4 draw was announced in late March 2023 and included clubs from the National Premier Leagues NSW.

Format and dates

Round	Clubs remaining	Winners from previous round	New entries this round	Main match dates
Round 2	187	–	126	5–19 March
Round 3	116	53	49	11 March–10 April
Round 4	64	52	12	4–26 April
Round 5	32	32	–	26 April–3 May
Round 6	16	16	–	9–17 May
Round 7	8	8	–	31 May–6 June

Qualified clubs

For the 2023 edition of the Waratah Cup, Sydney United 58, APIA Leichhardt and Mt Druitt Town Rangers from the National Premier Leagues NSW progressed to the semi-final. Inter Lions, from the NSW League One, entered the Waratah Cup semi-final for the first time in the club's history after defeating Rockdale Ilinden in the seventh round. Sydney United contested for their seventh cup title, the most won by any club.

Qualified clubs
Sydney United 58 (2)	APIA Leichhardt (2)	Inter Lions (3)	Mt Druitt Town Rangers (2)

Semi-finals

14 June

19:30 AEST (UTC 10)

Sydney United 58 (2)	6–1	(3) Inter Lions
Antelmi 5', 10', 41', 44' Trifiro 21' Payne 88'	Report	Duke  38', 85' Patramanis  50'

Edensor Park
Sydney United Sports Centre

Referee: Stephen Lucas

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26 July

19:15 AEST (UTC 10)

APIA Leichhardt (2)	2–1	(2) Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Stewart 2', 35' Armson  86' Muata-Marlow  89' Ucchino  90'	Report	Gallo  16' Katsuta 42' Elrich  53' Faisal  83' Macerola  90'

Leichhardt
Lambert Park

Referee: Craig Fisher

Final

10 September

15:00 AEST (UTC 10)

Sydney United 58	3–1 (a.e.t.)	APIA Leichhardt
Perkatis  38' Vlastelica  44' Jennings 45 2' Antelmi  45 2', 110' Bakmaz  69' Kaneko 111'	Report	S.Symons  12'  39' Jordan 36' J.Symons  45 2' D'Apuzzo  90 5' Denmead  115'

Lilyfield
Leichhardt Oval

Referee: Sam Kelly