Sydney, Australia

Monday 28 May 2018

The FFA Cup 2018 Final Rounds format is set for some significant changes after the match schedule for the nation-wide knock-out competition was released by Football Federation Australia (FFA) today.

The Round of 32 fixtures will be played over four (4) match nights (Tuesday or Wednesday) between the 24 July – 8 August (4 matches per night) with the Round of 16 to be played on two (2) match nights between 21 August – 29 August.

The Quarter Finals, Semi Finals, and Cup Final match dates have been adjusted for the fifth iteration of the FFA Cup in a bid to support the continued growth of the Australia-wide knockout.

The Quarter Finals – which will be played on two match nights between 18-26 September – have been shifted from last year to avoid a crossover with Member Federation National Premier Leagues (NPL) Grand Finals, as well as September’s FIFA International Window.

The FFA Cup 2018 Semi Finals will be played on a stand-alone weekend in early (6-7) October, two weeks prior to the commencement of the Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Season.

The FFA Cup Final 2018 will be played in October for the first time, with the evening of Wednesday, 31 October locked in for the competition’s showpiece.

The draw for the Round of 32 of the FFA Cup 2018 will be conducted LIVE on FOX SPORTS on Tuesday, 26 June 2018 in the lead up to the Caltex Socceroos’ third Group C match at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ against Peru. The exact time of the draw will be released in the coming weeks.

The Round of 32 of the FFA Cup 2018 will contain the ten Hyundai A-League clubs, the 2017 NPL Champion (Heidelberg United from Victoria), as well as 21 aspirational clubs from Member Federations from across the nation.

As engagement with the FFA Cup continues to grow, FFA can confirm that a record 761 clubs entered the FFA Cup Preliminary Rounds, which will grow to 772 clubs when the ten Hyundai A-League clubs, as well as Heidelberg United, join the competition.

FOX SPORTS will again provide comprehensive coverage from the Round of 32 onwards. The FFA Cup’s official broadcaster will show one LIVE match per match night while providing coverage and updates, as well as live streams, of all non-broadcast matches. Details regarding the FOX SPORTS broadcast and streaming will be announced closer to the start of the Round of 32.

Each Member Federation’s entrants in the Round of 32 will be decided on or before the following dates:

*Dates are subject to change

Slot allocations for the FFA Cup 2018 Round of 32 from Member Federations remain unchanged with Football NSW receiving five (5) slots, Football Queensland and Football Federation Victoria four (4) slots, Northern NSW Football and Football West two (2) slots, and Football Federation South Australia, Football Federation Tasmania, Capital Football (ACT) and Football Federation Northern Territory each allocated one (1) slot. One (1) slot is also reserved for the 2017 NPL Champion (Heidelberg United FC - Victoria)

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