The Round of 32 of the 2023 Australia Cup gets underway on Friday night. Here’s everything you need to know.
The highly anticipated return of the Australia Cup is right around the corner, as the national stages get underway on Friday night.
Only 32 teams remain from the 775 sides that have competed in the 2023 iteration this year, with NPL and state league sides from all across the country joining 10 Isuzu UTE A-League teams in the final stages.
A quadruple header on August 4 kicks off a two month long tourney, where the race will be on to claim one of Australian football’s greatest club prizes – culminating in the final on October 7.
Before it all kicks off, here’s everything you need to know.
How to watch?
All Australia Cup matches will be streamed live and free on 10Play.
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Round of 32 fixtures
Friday August 4
Broadmeadow Magic v Sydney United 58
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Magic Park, Broadmeadow, New South Wales
MetroStars v Inglewood United
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)/7pm (local)
Venue: TK Shutter Reserve, Klemzig, South Australia
Peninsula Power v Wellington Phoenix
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: A J Kelly Park, Kippa-Ring, Queensland
Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Canberra Croatia
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Popondetta Park, Emerton, New South Wales
Wednesday August 9
Goulburn Valley Suns v APIA Leichhardt
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: John McEwen Reserve, Shepparton, Victoria
Edgeworth Eagles v Western United
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Jack McLaughlan Oval, Edgeworth, New South Wales
Gold Coast Knights v Devonport City Strikers
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre, Carrara, Queensland
Floreat Athena v Western Sydney Wanderers
Kick-off: 8:30pm (AEST)/6:30pm (local)
Venue: Kingsway Reserve, Madeley, Western Australia
Thursday August 10
Moreton Bay United v Heidelberg United
Kick-off: 7pm (AEST)
Venue: Wolter Park, Albany Creek, Queensland
Melbourne Knights v Lions FC
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Knights Stadium, Sunshine North, Victoria
Hellenic Athletic v Inter Lions
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)/ 7pm (local)
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium, Marrara, Northern Territory
Sunday August 13
Oakleigh Cannons v Melbourne City
Kick-off: 2pm (AEST)
Venue: Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh, Victoria
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: 3pm (AEST)
Venue: WIN Stadium, Wollongong, New South Wales
Monday August 14
Northcote City v Adelaide United
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: John Cain Memorial Park, Thornbury, Victoria
Campbelltown City v Macarthur FC
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)/ 7pm (local)
Venue: Steve Woodcock/ServiceFM Stadium, South Australia
Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
Kick-off: 7:30 PM (AEST)
Venue: Maitland No.1 Sportsground, Newcastle, New South Wales
When is the draw for the Round of 16?
The draw for the Round of 16 will take play on Monday August 14 on 10Play, following the conclusion of Northcote City’s clash against Adelaide United.
Australia Cup national stages dates
Round of 16: Saturday August 26, Sunday August 27, Tuesday August 29, Wednesday August 30. (Dates are subject to change depending on NPL fixtures and ground availability)
Quarter Finals: Wednesday September 13, Saturday September 16, Sunday September 17. (Exact Quarter Finals and Semi-Final match days to be confirmed by Football Australia)
Semi Finals: Saturday September 23, Sunday September 24, Wednesday September 27. (Exact Quarter Finals and Semi-Final match days to be confirmed by Football Australia)
Final: Saturday October 7
Key storylines
Goulburn Valley dare to dream
They are the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition but it’s not stopping Goulburn Valley Suns from daring to dream of a magical run.
The NPL3 Victoria side from Shepparton went on a barnstorming run through the preliminary rounds to book their place in the Round of 32 for the first time, beating the likes of Pascoe Vale and Hume City – who are in NPL2 and the Victorian top tier respectively.
Goulburn will now face NPL New South Wales ladder leaders APIA Leichhardt on August 9, where they are set to be backed by a strong, home contingent at John McEwen Reserve against one of the best sides outside of the A-League Men.
Russell Currie has been a force up front for the Suns this year, scoring a league-high 15 goals, along with nine in the preliminary rounds and the big Scotsman will be hoping to add to that tally against the Tigers.
The Suns are also known as the former home of the Kuols – Alou and Garang – who both spent time at the club prior to joining Central Coast Mariners.
Can Oakleigh cause another Cupset?
Oakleigh Cannons were one of the great stories of the Australia Cup last season and they will be hoping lightning can strike twice in 2023.
The reigning NPL Victoria champions went on an incredible run to the semi finals last year, defeating Sydney FC in an enthralling quarter final at home, before eventually falling to eventual winners, Macarthur FC.
Chris Taylor’s side balanced their league and Cup campaigns brilliantly last season, despite short turnarounds between fixtures and a mounting injury list.
This included a goalkeeper crisis after first and second-choice keepers Nick Feely and Lachlan Hart were injured, meaning the club had to sign former A-Leagues shot-stopper Lewis Italiano and blood 13-year-old Ymer Abili as the back-up.
This year, however, they face an enormous task from the off where they will face reigning A-League Men premiers Melbourne City.
With City bringing in a host of fresh faces and Oakleigh in the tail-end of their campaign, there may be no better time to take on their local rivals at what’s set to be a jam packed Jack Edwards Reserve.
Fresh and returning faces among the A-Leagues contingent
The Round of 32 will be the first competitive hit-out for several A-Leagues sides this season, which means a number of new players will get an opportunity to impress on debut.
All 10 of the A-League Men sides remaining in the competition have been busy this off-season bringing in new players or promoting youngsters into the senior team on scholarship deals.
The Cup presents as a perfect platform for these new faces to strut their stuff and put their name in headlights going into the beginning of the regular season.
INS AND OUTS: Isuzu UTE A-League 2023-24 Transfer Centre
One of the names to keep an eye on in the first Matchday is Wellington Phoenix defender Lukas Kelly-Heald – who signed a club record five-year deal in the off-season – and is expected to feature against Peninusla Power on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Alou Kuol (Central Coast Mariners), Valerie Germain (Macarthur FC), Marin Jakolis & Tolgay Arslan (Melbourne City), Nathan Amantidis (Sydney FC), Daniel Penha & Riku Danzaki (Western United) are some of the other off-season arrivals who could be in the mix to feature.
