There were a total of four 'cupsets' along the way when South Melbourne FC eliminated three-time winners Adelaide United from the competition, in the first time since 2004 that the two sides had met in competitive action.
Defending champions Newcastle Jets joined Adelaide, Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory on the scrapheap as some of Australia struggled with their off-season cup duties.
Conversely, there were enormously comfortable wins from the likes of Sydney FC (5-1), Melbourne Victory (4-0) and Melbourne City (3-0), all of whom are amongst the Australia Cup favourites each and every season.
2026 Australia Cup Round of 16 fixtures
M1: Brisbane Roar v Sydney FC
M2: Brunswick Juventus (NPL VIC2) v Preston Lions (NPL VIC)
M3: Western Sydney Wanderers v Melbourne Victory
M4: Lions FC (NPL QLD) v Melbourne City
M5: Apia Leichhardt (NPL NSW) v Sydney United 58 (NPL NSW)
M6: SD Raiders (NPL NSW) v Macarthur FC
M7: North Sunshine Eagles (NPL VIC2) v Heidelberg United (NPL VIC)
M8: South Melbourne (NPL VIC) v Fremantle City (NPL WA)
2026 Australia Cup quarter-finals
Q1: Winner of M2 (Brunswick Juventus-Preston Lions) v Winner of M8 (South Melbourne-Fremantle City)
Q2: Winner of M4 (Lions FC-Melbourne City) v Winner of M7 (North Sunshine Eagles-Heidelberg United)
Q3: Winner of M1 (Brisbane Roar-Sydney FC) v Winner of M6 (SD Raiders-Macarthur FC)
Q4: Winner of M5 (APIA Leichhardt-Sydney Utd 58) v Winner of M3 (Western Sydney Wanderers-Melbourne Victory)
2026 Australia Cup semi-finals
S1: Winner of Q3 (Brisbane Roar/Sydney FC/SD Raiders/Macarthur FC) v Winner of Q4 (APIA Leichhardt/Sydney United 58/Western Sydney Wanderers/Melbourne Victory)
S2: Winner of Q1 (Brunswick Juventus/Preston Lions/South Melbourne/Fremantle City) v Winner of Q2 (Lions FC/Melbourne City/North Sunshine Eagles/Heidelberg United)
Where to watch the 2026 Australia Cup
There will be a whole host of viewing and streaming options for the tournament, with A-League broadcaster Paramount+ (P+), the only place to catch all 31 games of the competition proper.
Four of the 16 Round of 32 matches will be exclusive to P+, whilst the other 12 will be simulcast across the free Network Ten streaming service and Football Australia's YouTube channel.
Of course, every game of the competition will be covered by Flashscore with live scores and statistics from kickoff through to the final whistle.
Queensland (5 clubs - 2 remaining)
BRISBANE ROAR - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (capacity: 52,500)
How they got here: Qualified as an A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Sydney Olympic (NPL NSW), 3-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: Sydney FC, home
Previous season: Finished 11th in 2025/26 A-League
Best Australia Cup finish: Runners-up (2023)
Player to watch: 22-year-old attacker Justin Vidic, who scored a brace against Rockdale Ilinden during the 2024 Australia Cup Round of 32.
LIONS FC - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Spencer Park, Brisbane (capacity: 5,000)
How they got here: Defeated Eastern Suburbs (1-1p), Holland Park Hawks (4-1), Olympic FC (1-0) and Sunshine Coast Wanderers (3-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Perth Glory (A-League), 1-1(p) home
Current season: 1st in 2026 NPL Queensland
Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 16 (2024, 2021, 2018, 2015)
Player to watch: Alexander Fiechtner, the leading goalscorer of the 2026 NPL QLD (31) and Australia Cup scorer against Perth RedStar in 2024.
MARLIN COAST RANGERS - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Barlow Park, Cairns (capacity: 16,700)
How they got here: Defeated Edge Hill United (2-1), Innisfail United (6-3), Leichhardt FC (3-2), Brothers Townsville (4-1), Clinton (3-1) and Logan Lightning (3-1)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Brunswick Juventus (NPL2 Victoria), 4-0 home
Current season: 1st in 2026 Far North & Gulf league
Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2026)
Players to watch: Cooper Kennedy (9) and Chris O'Hare (9) are the club's leading goalscorers for the current league season.
PENINSULA POWER - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: AJ Kelly Park, Kippa-Ring (capacity: 3,000)
How they got here: Defeated Nerang (4-0), Newmarket SFC (4-0), Moggill (4-1) and North Star (7-3)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to APIA Leichhardt (NPL NSW), 2-1 away
Current season: 2nd in 2026 NPL Queensland
Best Australia Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2022)
Player to watch: Niyah Joseph is their top goalscorer (11) of the current league season and has scored against Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock back in a 2023 Scottish League Cup game.
ROCHEDALE ROVERS - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Underwood Park, Rochedale (capacity: 5,000), home
How they got here: Defeated Noosa Lions (2-1), Wynnum Wolves (3-0), Capalaba (6-0) and Caboolture (3-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to SD Raiders (NSW NPL) 2-1 at home
Current season: 10th in 2026 NPL Queensland
Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2026)
Player to watch: Obren Kljajic is their top scorer (11) of the current NPL Queensland season.
New South Wales (11 clubs - 6 remaining)
APIA LEICHHARDT - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney (capacity: 20,000)
How they got here: Defeated Banksia Tigers (10-1), Hurstville Zagreb (3-0), Sydney Uni (2-0) and Rockdale Ilinden (1-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Peninsula Power (NPL Queensland), 2-1 home
Round of 16 opponents: Sydney United 58 (NPL NSW), home
Current season: 1st in 2026 NPL NSW
Best Australia Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2018, 2021)
Players to watch: Presley Ortiz (12) is their top goalscorer of the current league season.
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Polytec Stadium, Gosford (capacity: 20,000)
How they got here: Qualified as A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Sydney United 58 (NPL NSW), 1-1(11-10p) away
Previous season: Finished 9th in 2025/26 A-League
Best Australia Cup finish: Runners-up (2022)
Players to watch: Bailey Brandtman is an exciting 21-year-old prospect who scored four goals last A-League season.
MACARTHUR FC - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium (capacity: 17,500)
How they got here: Qualified as A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Azzurri United (NPL Northern Territory), 3-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: SD Raiders (NPL NSW), away
Previous season: Finished 7th in 2025/26 A-League
Best Australia Cup finish: Winners (2023, 2025)
Players to watch: 20-year-old Luke Vickery is on a new three-year contract after scoring five goals in the last A-League campaign.
MAITLAND FC - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Maitland Regional Sportsground (capacity: 8,000)
How they got here: Defeated Belmont Swansea United (5-0), Valentine FC (3-0), Northern Storm (10-1), Kahibah FC (4-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Fremantle City (NPL Western Australia), 2-1 home
Current season: 3rd in NPL Northern NSW
Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2019, 2026)
Players to watch: Braedyn Crowley (14) is their leading scorer of the current NPL season.
NEWCASTLE JETS - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium (capacity: 33,000)
How they got here: Qualified as A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Preston Lions (NPL Victoria), 3-2 away
Previous season: Finished as 2025/26 A-League semi-finalists
Best Australia Cup finish: Quarter-finals (2020)
Players to watch: Joe Lolley was one of the A-League's most exciting midfielders until the second half of his A-League campaign became riddled with injury.
SD RAIDERS - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Fairfield Showground (capacity: 5,000)
How they got here: Defeated Albion Park White Eagles (7-3), Shellharbour FC (5-1), St George City (2-1) and Wollongong United (2-1).
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Rochedale Rovers (NPL Queensland) 2-1 away
Round of 16 opponents: Macarthur FC, home
Current season: 10th in 2026 NPL NSW
Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2025)
Players to watch: Martin Fernandez (7) is their leading goalscorer for the league season and scored an Australia Cup goal against Melbourne City in 2019.
SYDNEY FC - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Allianz Stadium, Sydney (capacity: 45,500)
How they got here: Qualified as A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Bayswater City (NPL Western Australia), 5-1 away
Round of 16 opponents: Brisbane Roar, away
Previous season: Finished as 2025/26 A-League runners-up
Best Australia Cup finish: Winners (2018, 2024)
Players to watch: One-time Spain under-19 international Víctor Campuzano will be hoping to improve on last season's tally of four goals and three assists.
SYDNEY OLYMPIC - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Belmore Sports Ground (capacity: 17,000)
How they got here: Defeated Central Coast United (2-1), Marconi Stallions (1-0), Randwick City (4-0) and Fraser Park (3-2)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Brisbane Roar (A-League), 3-0 home
Current season: 16th in 2026 NPL NSW
Best Australia Cup finish: Winners (1983, 1985)
Players to watch: Sebastian Kukucka is in excellent form for the club, scoring in their first two games of July and showed off his dribbling skills at the weekend by nutmegging two Wolves players.
SYDNEY UNITED 58 - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Sydney United Sports Centre (capacity: 12,000)
How they got here: Defeated Wollingong Wolves (3-0), Bulli FC (2-0), Manly United (2-1) and Blacktown City (4-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Central Coast Mariners (A-League), 1-1(11-10p) home
Round of 16 opponents: APIA Leichhardt (NPL NSW), away
Current season: 3rd in 2026 NPL NSW
Best Australia Cup finish: Runners-up (2022)
Players to watch: Michael Krslovicis (7) is their leading scorer of the season.
WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Commbank Stadium (capacity: 30,000)
How they got here: Qualified as A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Tigers FC (NPL ACT), 2-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: Melbourne Victory, home
Previous season: Finished 12th in 2025/26 A-League
Best Australia Cup finish: Semi-finalists (2018, 2019)
Players to watch: Miguel Di Pizio returns to the Wanderers, where he first began his progression as an academy product, with four A-League goals to his name.
WESTON BEARS - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Hunter City Motor Group Stadium, Weston (capacity: 2,500)
How they got here: Defeated Kotara South (3-0), Broadmeadow Magic (2-1), Pottsville Beach (8-0) and Edgeworth Eagles (1-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Melbourne City (A-League), 3-0 home
Current season: 2nd in NPL Northern NSW
Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2025, 2026)
Players to watch: Brock Beveridge (12) is their leading scorer of the current NPL season.
Victoria (7 clubs - 7 remaining)
BRUNSWICK JUVENTUS - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: CB Smith Reserve (capacity: 2,000)
How they got here: Defeated Skye United (5-0), Hume City (2-2p), Box Hill United (1-0), Oakleigh Cannons (2-1) and Bulleen Lions (1-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Marlin Coast Rangers (Far North & Gulf), 4-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: Preston Lions (NPL Victoria), home
Current season: 2nd in NPL2 Victoria
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32
Players to watch: Luke Francis could be key to Brunswick's Cup run and their bid for promotion to the NPL after scoring six goals in his first two games since moving from Preston.
HEIDELBERG UNITED - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Olympic Village (capacity: 12,000)
How they got here: Defeated Malvern City (5-0), Yarraville Glory (5-0), Altona East Phoenix (3-0) and Bentleigh Greens (2-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Cumberland United (NPL South Australia), 3-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: North Sunshine Eagles (NPL2 Victoria), away
Current season: 6th in NPL Victoria
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Runners-up (2025)
Players to watch: Jay Mcgowan (6) is the club's leading goalscorer this season.
MELBOURNE CITY - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: AAMI Park (capacity: 30,000)
How they got here: Qualified as an A-League side
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Weston Bears (NPL Northern NSW), 3-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: Lions FC (NPL Queensland), away
Previous season: Finished in the 2025/26 Elimination Finals
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Winners (2016)
Players to watch: 20-year-old Max Caputo had his most productive A-League season in 2025/26, scoring eight goals and assisting one more.
MELBOURNE VICTORY - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: AAMI Park (capacity: 30,000)
How they got here: Qualified as an A-League side
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Kingborough Lions United (NPL Tasmania), 4-0 away
Round of 16 opponents: Western Sydney Wanderers, away
Previous season: Finished in the 2025/26 Elimination Finals
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Winners (2015, 2021)
Players to watch: Harry Sawyer joins from Macarthur FC after an exciting start to the 2025/26 season in which he scored five goals in his first ten games.
NORTH SUNSHINE EAGLES - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Knights Stadium (capacity: 10,000)
How they got here: Defeated Collingwood City (4-2), Whittlesea United (2-1), Eltham Redbacks (4-2) and Avondale FC (3-2)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated FK Beograd (NPL South Australia), 3-2 away
Round of 16 opponents: Heidelberg United (NPL Victoria), home
Current season: 13th in NPL2 Victoria
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32
Players to watch: Ali Al Sheikh (9) is the club's top scorer of the season, scoring three in his first two games for the Eagles after six for Western United earlier in the season.
PRESTON LIONS - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: BT Connor Reserve (capacity: 6,500)
How they got here: Defeated Nunawading City (4-0), Keilor Park (1-1p), Uni Hill Eagles (2-0) and Caroline Springs George Cross (6-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Newcastle Jets (A-League), 3-2 home
Round of 16 opponents: Brunswick Juventus (NPL2 Victoria), away
Current season: 4th in NPL Victoria
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32
Players to watch: Nahuel Bonada (6) is the club's leading goalscorer of the season, albeit with five of those goals scored for former club South Melbourne prior to a mid-season transfer.
SOUTH MELBOURNE - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Lakeside Stadium (capacity: 12,000)
How they got here: Qualified as 2025 Australian Championship winners
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Adelaide United (A-League), 2-1 home
Round of 16 opponents: Fremantle City (NPL Western Australia), home
Current season: 5th in NPL Victoria
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Semi-finals (2017, 2024)
Players to watch: Jordan Swibel (5) is the club's top goalscorer of the season.
Tasmania (1 club - 0 remaining)
KINGBOROUGH LIONS UNITED - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Kitchen Centre Park, Kingborough (capacity: 1,500)
How they got here: Defeated Riverside Olympic (4-0), Barnstoneworth United (8-0), South Hobart (2-2p) and Devonport City Strikers (1-1p)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Melbourne Victory (A-League), 4-0 home
Current season: 2nd in NPL Tasmania
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2026)
Players to watch: Joel Badger (12) is the club's leading goalscorer of the league season.
South Australia (3 clubs - 0 remaining)
ADELAIDE UNITED - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Coopers Stadium (capacity: 16,500)
How they got here: Qualified as an A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to South Melbourne (NPL Victoria), 2-1 away
Previous season: Semi-finals of 2025/26 A-League
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Winners (2014, 2018, 2019)
Players to watch: Key forward Craig Goodwin was sorely missed last season and will be a most welcome return now that he is fully recovered from a groin injury that left him sidelined for months.
CUMBERLAND UNITED - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Lady Burra Stadium (capacity: 2,000)
How they got here: Defeated Northern Demons (4-2), Mount Barker United (5-0), Noarlunga United (6-0), Adelaide City (1-0) and Adelaide Omonia Zebras (3-2)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Heidelberg United (NPL Victoria), 3-0 home
Current season: 5th in South Australia State League 1
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2026)
Players to watch: Hugo Rimington was the club's top scorer in 2025 and also scored in their recent Federation Cup final loss to FK Beograd.
FK BEOGRAD - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Frank Mitchell Park (capacity: 3,000)
How they got here: Defeated Adelaide Titans (1-0), Campbelltown City (3-2), West Adelaide (3-0), Adelaide Atletico (1-0) and West Torrens Birkalla (3-0)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to North Sunshine Eagles (NPL2 Victoria), 3-2 home
Current season: 5th in NPL South Australia
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2026)
Players to watch: Lorenzo Boselli (9) is their top goalscorer for this NPL season.
Western Australia (3 clubs - 1 remaining)
BAYSWATER CITY - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Frank Drago Reserve (capacity: 1,000)
How they got here: Defeated Murdoch University Melville (2-1), Joondalup City (1-0), Dianella White Eagles (2-1) and Perth RedStar (3-2)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Sydney FC (A-League), 5-1 home
Current season: 3rd in NPL Western Australia
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2014, 2019, 2026)
Players to watch: Chris Jackson (10) is the club's top scorer for this league season.
FREMANTLE CITY - THROUGH TO ROUND OF 16
Australia Cup Stadium: Hilton Park, Beaconsfield (capacity: 1,000)
How they got here: Defeated Carramah Shamrock Rovers (3-0), Wembley Downs (3-1), Rockingham City (2-1) and Olympic Kingsway (3-1)
Round of 32 opponents: Defeated Maitland FC (NPL Northern NSW), 2-1 away
Round of 16 opponents: South Melbourne (NPL Victoria), away
Current season: 4th in NPL Western Australia
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32
Players to watch: Chad Nilson (9) is Fremantle's leading goalscorer for the current campaign.
PERTH GLORY - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: HBF Park, Perth (capacity: 20,500)
How they got here: Qualified as an A-League club
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Lions FC (NPL Queensland), 1-1(p) away
Previous season: Finished 10th in 2025/26 A-League
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Runners-up (2014, 2015)
Players to watch: Club captain Adam Taggart scored seven goals last week, two of which came in this competition.
A.C.T. (1 club - 0 remaining)
TIGERS FC - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: McKellar Park, Canberra (capacity: 3,500)
How they got here: Defeated Belconnen United (3-0), ANU FC (2-0), Monaro Panthers (3-1) and Canberra Croatia (5-1)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Western Sydney Wanderers (A-League), 2-0 home
Current season: 3rd in NPL ACT
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2019, 2021, 2026)
Players to watch: 22-year-old penalty taker Aidan Milicevic is the club's top scorer of the season with 16 goals.
Northern Territory (1 club - 0 remaining)
AZZURRI UNITED - ELIMINATED IN ROUND OF 32
Australia Cup Stadium: Darwin Football Stadium (capacity: 6,000)
How they got here: Defeated Garuda FC (4-1), Palmerston Rovers (9-0), Darwin Hearts (3-1) and Port Darwin (6-1)
Round of 32 opponents: Lost to Macarthur FC (A-League), 3-0 home
Current season: 1st in NT Men's Premier League
Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2026)
Players to watch: Cai Pritchard is one of the team's most talented midfielders and a regular goalscorer in the NT Premier League.
Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018 and, as the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, has reported on-site at several major events in Melbourne including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. You can read his pieces here and contact him on X or LinkedIn.
