The 2024 Australia Cup was the eleventh season of the Australia Cup, the main national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. This edition was the third under the new name of the "Australia Cup" following the renaming of Football Federation Australia to Football Australia.[1] Thirty-two teams contested the competition proper.
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia New Zealand |
| Dates | 9 February – 29 September 2024 |
| Teams | 759 (qualifying competition) 32 (main competition) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Macarthur FC (2nd title) |
| Runner-up | Melbourne Victory |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 31 |
| Goals scored | 114 (3.68 per match) |
| Attendance | 73,650 (2,376 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Nishan Velupillay (5 goals) |
Sydney FC were the defending champions, but were eliminated by Oakleigh Cannons in the Round of 32.
Macarthur FC won its second Australia Cup after defeating Melbourne Victory in the final. The club is expected to qualify to the group stage of the AFC's 2025–26 AFC Champions League Two competition.
Round and dates
editFor the first time in the competition's history, the draws for the round of 16, quarter-finals and semi-finals are combined.[2][3]
| Round | Draw date | Match dates | Number of fixtures | Teams | New entries this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preliminary rounds | Various | 9 February–24 July | 737 | 759 → 32 | 751 |
| Round of 32 | 19 June | 30 July–7 August | 16 | 32 → 16 | 8 |
| Round of 16 | 7 August | 25–28 August | 8 | 16 → 8 | None |
| Quarter-finals | 11–14 September | 4 | 8 → 4 | None | |
| Semi-finals | 21–22 September | 2 | 4 → 2 | None | |
| Final | — | 29 September | 1 | 2 → 1 | None |
Teams
editA total of 32 teams will participate in the 2024 Australia Cup competition proper.
A-League Men clubs represent the highest level in the Australian league system, whereas Member Federation clubs come from level 2 and below.[4]
| A-League Men clubs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Adelaide United | Central Coast Mariners | Macarthur FC | Melbourne City |
| Melbourne Victory | Newcastle Jets | Perth Glory | Sydney FC |
| Wellington Phoenix | Western Sydney Wanderers | ||
| Member federation clubs | |||
 O'Connor Knights (2)
|
 APIA Leichhardt (2)
|
Blacktown City (2)
|
NWS Spirit (2)
|
| Rockdale Ilinden (2)
|
Edgeworth FC (2)
|
Lambton Jaffas (2)
|
 Darwin Hearts (2)
|
 Brisbane City (2)
|
Lions FC (2)
|
Moreton City Excelsior (2)
|
Olympic FC (2)
|
 Campbelltown City (2)
|
Modbury Jets (2)
|
 Glenorchy Knights (2)
|
 Heidelberg United (2)
|
| Hume City (2)
|
Melbourne Srbija (4)
|
Oakleigh Cannons (2)
|
South Melbourne (2)
|
 Olympic Kingsway (2)
|
Perth RedStar (2)
|
||
Preliminary rounds
editMember federation teams competed in various state-based preliminary rounds to win one of 22 places in the competition proper (at the Round of 32). All Australian clubs were eligible to enter the qualifying process through their respective member federation; however, only one team per club was permitted entry into the competition. The preliminary rounds operated within a consistent national structure whereby club entry into the competition is staggered in each state/territory, determined by what level the club sits at in the Australian soccer league system. This ultimately lead to round 7, with the winning clubs from that round entering directly into the round of 32. Slot allocations were the same as the previous year.
The top eight placed A-League Men clubs from the 2023–24 A-League Men season gained automatic qualification to the Round of 32. The remaining four teams entered a play-off series to determine the remaining two positions.
| Federation | Associated competition | Round of 32 qualifiers |
|---|---|---|
| Football Australia | A-League Men | 10 |
| Capital Football (ACT) | Federation Cup (ACT) | 1 |
| Football NSW | Waratah Cup | 4 |
| Northern NSW Football | Northern NSW State Cup | 2 |
| Football Northern Territory | NT FFA Cup Final | 1 |
| Football Queensland | Kappa Queensland Cup[5] | 4 |
| Football South Australia | Federation Cup (SA) | 2 |
| Football Tasmania | Milan Lakoseljac Cup | 1 |
| Football Victoria | Dockerty Cup | 5 |
| Football West (WA) | State Cup | 2 |
Bracket
editRound of 32
editThe draw took place on 19 June.[6] The lowest ranked side that qualified for this round was Melbourne Srbija. They were the only level 4 team left in the competition.
All times listed below are at AEST
| 30 July 2024 | Moreton City Excelsior (2) | 5–1 | Campbelltown City (2) | Brisbane |
| 19:00 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Wolter Park Attendance: 869 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 30 July 2024 | Oakleigh Cannons (2) | 3–1 | Sydney FC (1) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: The Home of the Matildas Attendance: 1,200 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 30 July 2024 | O'Connor Knights (2) | 1–2 | Macarthur FC (1) | Canberra |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: GIO Stadium Canberra Attendance: 3,210 Referee: Sam Kelly |
| 30 July 2024 | Darwin Hearts (2) | 0–6 | Hume City (2) | Darwin |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Darwin Football Stadium Attendance: 1,443 Referee: Rebecca Durcau |
| 31 July 2024 | Blacktown City (2) | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | Adelaide United (1) | Sydney |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Landen Stadium Attendance: 1,531 Referee: Jack Morgan |
| 31 July 2024 | Brisbane City (2) | 1–2 | Western Sydney Wanderers (1) | Brisbane |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Imperial Corp Stadium Attendance: 1,794 Referee: Casey Reibelt |
| 31 July 2024 | Rockdale Ilinden (2) | 1–2 | Newcastle Jets (1) | Sydney |
| 19:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre Attendance: 1,797 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 31 July 2024 | Perth RedStar (2) | 1–4 | Lions FC (2) | Perth |
| 20:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Percy Doyle Reserve Attendance: 616 Referee: Daniel Cook |
| 3 August 2024 | Perth Glory (1) | 5–4 (a.e.t.) | Melbourne City (1) | Perth |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Sam Kerr Football Centre Attendance: 2,015 Referee: Alireza Faghani |
| 6 August 2024 | Lambton Jaffas (2) | 1–4 | Melbourne Victory (1) | Newcastle |
| 19:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Jack McLaughlin Oval Attendance: 1,172 Referee: Tim Danaskos |
| 6 August 2024 | South Melbourne (2) | 1–0 | Wellington Phoenix (1) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 | Sawyer  4' |
Report | Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Attendance: 4,196 Referee: Jonathon Barreiro |
| 6 August 2024 | Melbourne Srbija (4) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) | Modbury Jets (2) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: The Home of the Matildas Attendance: 1,069 Referee: Zijad Ahmetovic |
| Penalties | ||||
| 6 August 2024 | Olympic Kingsway (2) | 4–1 | Edgeworth FC (2) | Perth |
| 20:30 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Kingsway Reserve Attendance: 1,405 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 7 August 2024 | Heidelberg United (2) | 3–1 (a.e.t.) | Central Coast Mariners (1) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Olympic Village Attendance: 2,077 Referee: Alex King |
| 7 August 2024 | NWS Spirit (2) | 3–0 | Glenorchy Knights (2) | Sydney |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Christie Park Attendance: 624 Referee: Nathan Shakespear |
| 7 August 2024 | Olympic FC (2) | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | APIA Leichhardt (2) | Brisbane |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Goodwin Park Attendance: 1,400 Referee: Adam Kersey |
Round of 16
editThe draw for all remaining rounds took place on 7 August.[7] The lowest ranked side that qualified for this round was Melbourne Srbija. They were the only level 4 team left in the competition.
All times listed below are at AEST
| 25 August 2024 | Newcastle Jets (1) | 3–4 | Macarthur FC (1) | Maitland |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Maitland Sportsground Attendance: 2,971 Referee: Ben Abraham |
| 25 August 2024 | South Melbourne (2) | 3–2 (a.e.t.) | Olympic FC (2) | Melbourne |
| 17:30 | Report | Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Attendance: 2,572 Referee: Jonathan Barreiro |
| 27 August 2024 | Hume City (2) | 1–0 | Melbourne Srbija (4) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: Hume City Stadium Attendance: 3,163 Referee: Tim Danaskos |
| 27 August 2024 | Lions FC (2) | 0–4 | Western Sydney Wanderers (1) | Brisbane |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Luxury Paints Stadium Attendance: 1,853 Referee: Daniel Elder |
| 27 August 2024 | Olympic Kingsway (2) | 2–3 | Adelaide United (1) | Perth |
| 20:30 | Report | Stadium: Kingsway Reserve Attendance: 1,950 Referee: Adam Bavcar |
| 28 August 2024 | NWS Spirit (2) | 0–4 | Melbourne Victory (1) | Sydney |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Christie Park Attendance: 1,854 Referee: Daniel Cook |
| 28 August 2024 | Oakleigh Cannons (2) | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–1 p) | Heidelberg United (2) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: The Home of the Matildas Attendance: 1,500 Referee: Shaun Evans | |
| Penalties | ||||
| 28 August 2024 | Moreton City Excelsior (2) | 3–2 | Perth Glory (1) | Brisbane |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: Perry Park Attendance: 1,490 Referee: Adam Kersey |
Quarter-finals
editThe lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round were Hume City, Moreton City Excelsior, Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne. They were the only level 2 teams left in the competition.
All times listed below are at AEST
| 11 September 2024 | Hume City (2) | 2–3 (a.e.t.) | South Melbourne (2) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 | Report | Stadium: Hume City Stadium Attendance: 1,758 Referee: Tim Danaskos |
| 12 September 2024 | Adelaide United (1) | 2–1 (a.e.t.) | Western Sydney Wanderers (1) | Adelaide |
| 19:30 | Report |
|
Stadium: ServiceFM Stadium Attendance: 2,906 Referee: Shaun Evans |
| 14 September 2024 | Oakleigh Cannons (2) | 0–1 | Macarthur FC (1) | Melbourne |
| 15:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: The Home of the Matildas Attendance: 807 Referee: Jack Morgan |
| 14 September 2024 | Moreton City Excelsior (2) | 0–4 | Melbourne Victory (1) | Brisbane |
| 18:00 | Report |
|
Stadium: Perry Park Attendance: 1,850 Referee: Jonathan Barreiro |
Semi-finals
editThe lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round was South Melbourne. They were the only level 2 teams left in the competition.
All times listed below are at AEST
| 21 September 2024 | Melbourne Victory (1) | 1–0 | Adelaide United (1) | Melbourne |
| 19:30 |
|
Report | Stadium: AAMI Park Attendance: 5,131 Referee: Alex King |
| 22 September 2024 | South Melbourne (2) | 0–1 | Macarthur FC (1) | Melbourne |
| 18:00 | Report | Stadium: Lakeside Stadium Attendance: 4,138 Referee: Ben Abraham |
Final
editTop goalscorers
edit- As of 22 September 2024
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Nishan Velupillay
|
Melbourne Victory | 5 |
| 2 |  Valère Germain
|
Macarthur FC | 4 |
| 3 |  Marin Jakoliš
|
Macarthur FC | 3 |
 Nikos Vergos
|
Melbourne Victory | ||
| Marquez Walters
|
Moreton City Excelsior | ||
| 6 | 13 Players | Various | 2 |
Note: Goals scored in preliminary rounds not included.
References
edit- ^ "Football Australia CEO James Johnson annouces [sic] FFA Cup will be renamed Australia Cup | FFA Cup". www.theffacup.com.au. 5 February 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
- ^ "How to watch the Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 draw". Football Australia. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Australia Cup 2024 Draw Principles Explained". Football Australia. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Australia Cup 2024 Preliminary Rounds near completion | Australia Cup". www.australiacup.com.au. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "KAPPA QUEENSLAND CUP". Football Queensland. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
- ^ "Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 Draw Confirmed". Australia Cup. Football Australia. 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Explained Australia Cup 2024 Draw Principles". Australia Cup. Football Australia. 6 August 2024.