Darwin will host the 2023 Australia Cup Playoffs, to be played in mid-July between the bottom four sides on the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League standings.
The Playoffs will take place on Monday, July 17 and Tuesday, July 18 at Darwin Football Stadium, with the winners sealing their passage to the Round of 32 and joining the top eight sides in the league last season.
It all kicks off with 10th placed Newcastle Jets hosting 11th placed Melbourne Victory, before 9th placed Perth Glory take on 12th placed and reigning Australia Cup champions Macarthur FC.
“Whether it’s our senior and youth national teams or Football Australia competitions like the Australia Cup, we are committed to our strategy of taking elite football to as many cities as possible to showcase our leading established or emerging talent to different audiences and support the growth of football across Australia,” Football Australia CEO James Johnson said.
“Over the past 12 months, Football Australia has deliberately taken football activity to no less than seven different cities, and we are excited that Darwin will be hosting the Australia Cup 2023 Playoffs in July through the support of the Northern Territory Government, Northern Territory Major Events Company and Football Northern Territory.
“The Australia Cup Playoffs will provide football fans and event goers throughout the Northern Territory and beyond with the opportunity to attend two high quality matches featuring four A-League Men teams during a period of time when the whole of Australia will take centre stage as co-hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
It’s the first time since 2015 pre-season clash between Adelaide United and Melbourne City that two A-Leagues sides will lock horns in the Top End.
“Football, or soccer, is one of the most popular sports for Territorians to play, with thousands of children of all ages, boys and girls, making up the numbers at games played throughout our suburbs every weekend,” Northern Territory Government Minister for Major Events Paul Kirby said.
“Hosting the Australia Cup 2023 Playoffs is a fantastic opportunity to give football fans the opportunity to see high-level sport here in the Territory, as well as inspire the next generation of soccer stars.
“We might even have a future Mat Ryan or Sam Kerr sitting in the crowd, inspired by the Australia Cup to take up the sport and give it a go.”
This is the third season in a row that the bottom four A-League Men sides will compete in playoffs for a spot in the national stages.
Perth and Newcastle have now featured in each of the three years, while for Victory it’s their second appearance in the playoffs having featured in 2021.
Meanwhile, it’s the first time Macarthur have had to seal qualification via the playoffs, having avoided them in each of the last two years.
Both matches will be streamed live and free on 10 Play, with tickets going on sale today from 3.30pm local / 4.00pm AEST today via australiacup.com.au/tickets.
MATCH SCHEDULE
Newcastle Jets FC vs Melbourne Victory FC
Date: Monday, July 17
Kick-off: 7 PM (local)/7:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park
Perth Glory FC vs Macarthur FC
Date: Tuesday, 18 July 2023
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park
Ticketing Details
Tickets for each match are $15 Adults, $10 Concession* and $40 Family
*Concession Card Holders, Senior Card Holders, Students
**Children 3 years and under free unless occupying a seat
ROUND OF 32 CONFIRMED
Melbourne City
Central Coast Mariners
Adelaide United
Western Sydney Wanderers
Sydney FC
Wellington Phoenix
Western United
Brisbane Roar
Canberra Croatia
APIA Leichhardt
Inter Lions
Mt Druitt Town Rangers
Sydney United 58
Heidelberg United
Goulburn Valley Suns
Campbelltown City
North Eastern MetroStars
