The fixtures for the 2023 Australia Cup Round of 32 have been locked in, with the action set to get underway on Friday August 4.
All 16 matches have been scheduled in FIFA Women’s World Cup rest days, meaning both competitions will have clear air while running simultaneously throughout August.
The action gets underway with a quadruple header, headlined by last year’s finalists Sydney United 58 travelling north to face Northern New South Wales NPL side Broadmeadow Magic and Wellington Phoenix taking on NPL Queensland outfit Peninsula Power.
NPL3 Victoria outfit Goulburn Valley Suns – the lowest ranked team out of all sides remaining – will welcome APIA Leichhardt to town the following week on Wednesday August 9, among four games that night including Western United and Western Sydney Wanderers’ clashes with Edgeworth Eagles and Floreat Athena respectively.
The action continues the following evening with a triple-header, headlined by Inter Lions heading to the Top End to face Hellenic Athletic and Moreton Bay United welcoming Heidelberg United.
Matchday four of the opening round will also see reigning Isuzu UTE A-League premiers Melbourne City will face NPL Victoria champions Oakleigh Cannons in arguably the game of the Round of 32.
City – who secured a third straight Premiership last season – will open their new campaign away to the Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve, on Sunday August 13 at 2 PM.
Oakleigh will be far from a push-over either, having made the Semi Finals of the competition last year. Chris Taylor’s side shocked Sydney FC on their home deck, before falling to eventual champions Macarthur FC – days after they defeated South Melbourne 5-0 in the NPL Victoria Grand Final.
This will be City’s first match-up since their disappointing 6-1 defeat in the 2023 A-League Men’s Grand Final to the Central Coast Mariners and will be a markedly different side to the team that took the field at CommBank Stadium, with Marco Tilio, Jordan Bos, Aiden O’Neill, Tom Glover, Scott Jamieson, Thomas Lam, Valon Berisha and Richard van der Venne among the players departing since.
Meanwhile, the Cannons currently sit third in the NPL Victoria standings, behind South and Avondale.
Sydney FC will also host A-League Men champions Central Coast Mariners that day, with venue and timeslot to be confirmed.
The action concludes with a triple-header the next evening on Monday August 14, with NPL2 Victoria side Northcote City welcoming Adelaide United to town, NPL South Australia side Campbelltown City taking on the winner of the Australia Cup playoff between Perth Glory and Macarthur FC.
Brisbane Roar will also take on the winner of the other playoff – Newcastle Jets or Melbourne Victory – on the road that evening.
The Round of 32 fixtures will be streamed live on 10 Play, with the draw for the Round of 16 to take place immediately after Northcote City’s clash with Adelaide.
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, VIC
Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners
Kick-off: TBC
Venue: TBC
Monday August 14
Northcote City v Adelaide United
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: John Cain Memorial Park, Thornbury, Victoria
Campbelltown City v Winner of Perth Glory v Macarthur FC
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEST)/ 7pm (local)
Venue: Steve Woodcock/ServiceFM Stadium, South Australia
Winner of Newcastle Jets/Melbourne Victory v Brisbane Roar
Kick-off: TBC
Venue: TBC
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
Australia Cup playoffs – match details
Newcastle Jets FC vs Melbourne Victory FC
Date: Monday, July 17
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local)/7:30pm (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
