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.

2024 Australia Cup
Tournament details
CountryAustralia
New Zealand
Dates9 February – 29 September 2024
Teams759 (qualifying competition)
32 (main competition)
Final positions
ChampionsMacarthur FC (2nd title)
Runner-upMelbourne Victory
Tournament statistics
Matches played31
Goals scored114 (3.68 per match)
Attendance73,650 (2,376 per match)
Top goal scorer(s)Nishan Velupillay (5 goals)
← 2023
2025 →

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

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For 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

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A 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

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Member 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

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Round of 32Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
                  
Moreton City Excelsior5
Campbelltown City1
Moreton City Excelsior 3
Perth Glory 2
Perth Glory (a.e.t.)5
Melbourne City4
Moreton City Excelsior0
Melbourne Victory 4
NWS Spirit3
Glenorchy Knights0
NWS Spirit 0
Melbourne Victory 4
Lambton Jaffas1
Melbourne Victory4
Melbourne Victory1
Adelaide United 0
Olympic Kingsway4
Edgeworth Eagles1
Olympic Kingsway 2
Adelaide United 3
Blacktown City2
Adelaide United (a.e.t.)3
Adelaide United (a.e.t.) 2
Western Sydney Wanderers 1
Perth RedStar1
Lions FC4
Lions FC 0
Western Sydney Wanderers 4
Brisbane City1
Western Sydney Wanderers2
Melbourne Victory 0
Macarthur FC 1
Darwin Hearts0
Hume City6
Hume City1
Melbourne Srbija0
Melbourne Srbija (p)1 (4)
Modbury Jets1 (1)
Hume City2
South Melbourne (a.e.t.)3
South Melbourne1
Wellington Phoenix0
South Melbourne (a.e.t.)3
Olympic FC2
Olympic FC (a.e.t.)1
APIA Leichhardt0
South Melbourne 0
Macarthur FC 1
Oakleigh Cannons3
Sydney FC1
Oakleigh Cannons (p)1 (4)
Heidelberg United 1 (1)
Heidelberg United (a.e.t.)3
Central Coast Mariners1
Oakleigh Cannons 0
Macarthur FC 1
Rockdale Ilinden1
Newcastle Jets2
Newcastle Jets3
Macarthur FC 4
O'Connor Knights1
Macarthur FC2

Round of 32

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The 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) 5–1Campbelltown City (2)Brisbane
19:00
Report
Stadium: Wolter Park
Attendance: 869
Referee: Alireza Faghani
30 July 2024 Oakleigh Cannons (2) 3–1Sydney 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) 1–0Wellington 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) 4–1Edgeworth 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) 3–0Glenorchy 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

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The 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) 1–0Melbourne 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) 3–2Perth Glory (1)Brisbane
19:30
Report
Stadium: Perry Park
Attendance: 1,490
Referee: Adam Kersey

Quarter-finals

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The 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

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The 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) 1–0Adelaide 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

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Melbourne Victory0–1Macarthur FC
Report
Attendance: 13,289
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro

Top goalscorers

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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

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "How to watch the Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 draw". Football Australia. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Australia Cup 2024 Draw Principles Explained". Football Australia. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Australia Cup 2024 Preliminary Rounds near completion | Australia Cup". www.australiacup.com.au. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  5. ^ "KAPPA QUEENSLAND CUP". Football Queensland. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Australia Cup 2024 Round of 32 Draw Confirmed". Australia Cup. Football Australia. 19 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Explained Australia Cup 2024 Draw Principles". Australia Cup. Football Australia. 6 August 2024.