After six months of pulsating football across all four corners of the country, the Australia Cup 2023 Final Rounds will get underway this week.
The Round of 32 will be contested from Friday, August 4 to Monday, August 14 and will feature matches in six state and territories: New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, and Western Australia.
Three teams will make their Australia Cup Final Rounds debut with Inglewood United (Football West), Goulburn Valley Suns (Football VIC) and Inter Lions (Football NSW) looking to create history.
775 teams from across Australia fought for a place in the Round of 32, making the Australia Cup larger than the famous English Football Association Challenge Cup (FA Cup) which featured 732 teams in 2023.
Dating back to 1962, the Australia Cup has become an important part of the Australian football calendar and is the only national knockout competition of any sport in Australia which allows semi-professional clubs to play against professional clubs.
In their short involvement in the Australia Cup, A-League Men side Western United FC will take on the oldest club to feature in the Australia Cup in the Edgeworth Eagles FC (Northern NSW Football) who will look to advance to the Round of 16 for the third time in their history.
Reigning Australia Cup champions Macarthur FC will travel to South Australia to take on Campbelltown City FC (Football SA) for the final match of the Round of 32.
With Football fever sweeping across the country as the FIFA Women's World Cup™ hits many major cities, the Australia Cup Round of 32 will be played at suburban and regional venues during the rest days of the tournament, ensuring all of Australia have the opportunity to watch live professional football.
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson said: "Having the commencement of the Australia Cup the round of 32 coincide with the FIFA Women's World Cup, certainly makes for an exciting month for Australia football fans.
"On one hand, Australians are able to watch the highest level of global football while on the other, fans can enjoy the best of what domestic football has to offer. It is a truly unique opportunity for Australian football where global and local football come together.
"The Australia Cup is one of the countries more unique competitions, providing the opportunity for amateur and semi-professional clubs to test themselves against the best teams in the country in their pursuit of glory.
"Over the next 10 days, six teams will play an A-League team at their home ground. This presents them with an amazing opportunity to pack out their venue, get the local community involved and potentially create history," Johnson concluded.
All Australia Cup 2023 Final Rounds matches will be streamed LIVE and FREE on 10 Play, with thanks to the Football Australia's Broadcast Partner, Paramount ANZ.
Tickets to each match are available from www.australiacup.com.au/tickets.
Australia Cup 2023 Round of 32 Match Previews
Peninsula Power FC (Football Queensland) vs Wellington Phoenix FC
Venue: AJ Kelly Park, Kippa-Ring, QLD,
Date: Friday 4 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
Peninsula Power FC will be looking to go a step further than their 2022 Quarter-Final campaign against a new-look Wellington Phoenix FC as they aim to beat an A-League Men opponent in the Australia Cup for the first time.
Broadmeadow Magic FC (Northern NSW Football) vs Sydney United 58 FC (Football NSW)
Venue: Magic Park (Wanderers Oval), Broadmeadow, NSW
Date: Friday 4 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
Broadmeadow Magic FC will be looking to reach the Round of 16 for first time since 2018 in their seventh appearance in the Australia Cup.
MetroStars (Football SA) v Inglewood United FC (Football West)
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve, Klemzig, SA
Date: Friday 4 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
Inglewood United FC will be partaking in their first Australia Cup Final Rounds in their history when they travel to take on South Australian high-fliers North Eastern MetroStars who will be looking to advance to the Round of 16 for the second time in their history.
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC (Football NSW) v Canberra Croatia FC (Capital Football)
Venue: Popondetta Park, Emerton, NSW
Date: Friday 4 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
Mt Druitt Town Rangers FC will make their third appearance in the Australia Cup Finals but aim to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in their history, while Canberra Croatia FC will be looking to progress pass the Round of 32 in their second appearance in the Australia Cup Final Rounds.
Edgeworth Eagles FC (Northern NSW Football) v Western United FC
Venue: Jack McLaughlan Oval, Edgeworth, NSW
Date: Wednesday 9 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
Founded in 2018, Western United FC will take on the oldest club to feature in the Australia Cup the Edgeworth Eagles FC, founded in 1892, who will look to advance to the Round of 16 for the third time in their history.
Goulburn Valley Suns FC (Football VIC) v APIA Leichhardt FC (Football NSW)
Venue: John McEwan Reserve, Shepparton, VIC
Date: Wednesday 9 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
APIA Leichhardt FC will look to continue their record of making it out of the Round of 32 stage in all three appearances in the Australia Cup Final Rounds when taking on the Goulburn Valley Suns FC who will be making their debut in the Australia Cup Round of 32.
Gold Coast Knights FC (Football QLD) v Devonport City Strikers FC (Football Tasmania)
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre, Carrara, QLD
Date: Wednesday 9 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
After a one-year hiatus the Gold Coast Knights FC will be playing in their third Australia Round of 32 fixture when they play experienced Tasmanian club Devonport City Strikers FC who are appearing in their fifth Australia Cup Finals.
Floreat Athena FC (Football West) v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Venue: Kingsway Reserve, Madeley, WA
Date: Wednesday 9 August
Kick Off: 8.30pm AEST
Perth based Floreat Athena FC will be looking to create an upset against A-League opposition Western Sydney Wanderers FC to reach the Round of 16 for the first time in their history.
Moreton Bay United FC (Football QLD) v Heidelberg United FC (Football VIC)
Venue: Wolter Park, Albany Creek, QLD
Date: Thursday 10 August
Kick Off: 7.00pm AEST
Three-time Australia Cup Quarter Finalists, Heidelberg United FC will compete in the Final Rounds for the fifth time against Moreton Bay United FC who return to the Australia Cup Round of 32 for the first time since 2017.
Melbourne Knights FC (Football VIC) v Lions FC (Football QLD)
Venue: Knights Stadium, Sunshine North, VIC
Date: Thursday 10 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
The Melbourne Knights FC will be competing in the Australia Cup Final Rounds for the first time since 2019 when they come up against Queensland-based Lions FC who will be looking to emulate their Round of 16 campaign in 2021.
Hellenic Athletic Club (Football Northern Territory) v Inter Lions FC (Football NSW)
Venue: Larrakia Park - Darwin Football Stadium, Marjara, NT
Date: Thursday 10 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
Inter Lions FC of Sydney will play in their first-ever appearance in the Final Rounds of the Australia Cup against Darwin based Hellenic Athletic Club who will appear in their first Australia Cup finals since 2018.
Oakleigh Cannons FC (Football VIC) v Melbourne City FC
Venue: Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh, VIC
Date: Sunday 13 August
Kick Off: 2.00pm AEST
The Oakleigh Cannons will be looking to emulate their outstanding run in the 2022 iteration of the Australia Cup which saw them fall just one game short of the final but face a tough opponent in A-League Men's powerhouse and 2016 winner of the Australia Cup, Melbourne City.
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners FC
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong, NSW
Date: Sunday 13 August
Kick Off: 3.00pm AEST
Two of the strongest teams in the Australia Cup 2023 meet in the Round of 32 when Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners face off. The Mariners are the reigning A-League Men Champions and will be looking to continue their winning ways at WIN Stadium.
Newcastle Jets FC v Brisbane Roar FC
Venue: Maitland no.1 Sportsground, Maitland, NSW
Date: Monday 14 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
The Newcastle Jets will be looking to get the job done against the Brisbane Roar in regulation time after they progressed to the Round of 32 by winning their playoff in a tense penalty shootout against Melbourne Victory.
Northcote City FC (Football VIC) v Adelaide United FC
Venue: John Cain Memorial Park, Thornbury, VIC
Date: Monday 14 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
The most successful team in the history of the Australia Cup, Adelaide United, will be determined to go further than two successive Quarter Final exits with a fast start against Victorian based side, Northcote City FC.
Campbelltown City FC (Football SA) v Macarthur FC
Venue: Steve Woodcock Sports Centre, Campbelltown City SA
Date: Monday 14 August
Kick Off: 7.30pm AEST
The reigning champions of the Australia Cup, Macarthur, will have their eyes set on a repeat but face a tough challenge in South Australian NPL1 powerhouses, Campbelltown City FC.
