Welcome to the Australia Cup, the nation’s premier knockout football tournament. It’s a competition built on a simple yet powerful narrative: the “Magic of the Cup,” where semi-professional and amateur clubs from every corner of the country get their chance to take on the giants of the A-League Men.
This creates a spectacle of underdog stories, “Cupsets,” and unforgettable drama, making it one of the most exciting fixtures on the Australian football calendar. This is your essential guide to the tournament that unites the entire sport.
At a Glance: The Australia Cup
- Official Name: Australia Cup (formerly FFA Cup)
- Country: Australia 🇦🇺
- Founded: 2014
- Format: Nationwide knockout tournament
- The Prize: A spot in an AFC continental competition
- Most Titles: Adelaide United (3 titles)
How it Works: From Local Heroes to National Glory
The Australia Cup is structured to maximize drama and the potential for upsets.
- The Preliminary Rounds: Hundreds of semi-pro and amateur clubs compete in state-based knockout tournaments to earn a spot on the national stage.
- The Final Rounds: The competition proper begins with the Round of 32, when the professional A-League Men clubs enter the draw.
- Home-Ground Advantage: The cup’s defining feature is its hosting rule. When a lower-tier club is drawn against a professional A-League opponent, the smaller club is automatically given the right to host the match.
This is a strategy to create the conditions for “Cupsets,” which have become the competition’s main selling point, creating unforgettable nights at suburban grounds across the country.
The “Magic of the Cup”: Celebrating the Giant-Killers
The entire identity of the Australia Cup is built around the “Cupset,” or giant-killing, where an underdog from a lower division defeats a professional powerhouse. These moments have become part of Australian football folklore.
The Most Memorable Upsets
- Green Gully 2-1 Central Coast Mariners (2016)
- APIA Leichhardt 3-2 Melbourne Victory (2018)
- Sydney United 3-2 Brisbane Roar (2022 Semi-final): Sydney United became the first-ever National Premier Leagues (NPL) side to reach the final.
A Roll of Honour: The Champions
While upsets define the cup’s magic, the finals have often been contested by the nation’s biggest clubs. Adelaide United is the most successful club in the competition’s history with three titles.
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
| 2014 | Adelaide United | Perth Glory |
| 2015 | Melbourne Victory | Perth Glory |
| 2016 | Melbourne City | Sydney FC |
| 2017 | Sydney FC | Adelaide United |
| 2018 | Adelaide United | Sydney FC |
| 2019 | Adelaide United | Melbourne City |
| 2021 | Melbourne Victory | Central Coast Mariners |
| 2022 | Macarthur FC | Sydney United 58 |
| 2023 | Sydney FC | Brisbane Roar |
| 2024 | Macarthur FC | Melbourne Victory |
| 2025 | Newcastle Jets | Heidelberg United |
To follow the professional teams that compete for the cup, visit our complete Australia Cup Hub.