2025 Australia Cup Preliminary Rounds

The 2025 Australia Cup preliminary rounds were the qualifying competition to decide teams to take part in the 2025 Australia Cup. The competition commenced in February and concluded in June. The play-offs for A-League teams were held at the conclusion of the 2024–25 A-League season in May.

Schedule

The fixtures for the competition were as follows.

Format

The preliminary rounds structures were as follows, and refer to the different levels in the unofficial Australian soccer league system:

*First round:
:*2 Northern New South Wales clubs (south zone teams from level 6) entered at this stage.
:*9 Queensland clubs from Regional Queensland level 5 and below entered this stage.
:*131 Victorian clubs from level 7 and below entered this stage.

*Second round:
:*80 New South Wales clubs from the association clubs level (levels 5 and below) entered this stage.
:*38 Northern New South Wales clubs (10 north zone teams, and 28 south zone teams from levels 4 to 6) entered this stage.
:*87 Queensland clubs (8 from the previous round, 17 regional teams and 62 metro teams from level 5 and below) entered this stage.
:*128 Victorian clubs (80 from the previous round and 48 teams from levels 5 and 6) entered this stage.
:*20 Western Australian clubs from level 5 and below entered at this stage.

*Third round:
:*10 Australian Capital Territory clubs from level 3 and below entered this stage. The top three level 3 teams from 2024 entered in the following round.
:*102 New South Wales clubs (71 from the previous round and 31 teams from levels 3 and 4) entered this stage.
:*40 Northern New South Wales clubs (19 from the previous round, 16 north zone teams, 14 south zone teams from levels 4 and below and 10 teams from level 3) entered this stage.
:*80 Queensland clubs (69 from the previous round, and 11 teams from levels 4) entered this stage.
:*57 South Australian clubs entered this stage, which doubled as the first stage of the 2025 FSA Federation Cup.
:*10 Tasmanian clubs from level 3 and below entered this stage.
:*78 Victorian clubs (64 from the previous round and 14 teams from level 4) entered this stage.
:*42 Western Australian clubs (18 from the previous round and 24 teams from levels 3 and 4) entered this stage.

*Fourth round:
:*16 Australian Capital Territory clubs (5 from the previous round, 3 teams from level 3 and 8 teams from level 2) entered this stage.
:*64 New South Wales clubs (51 from the previous round and 13 teams from level 2) entered this stage.
:*32 Northern New South Wales clubs (20 from the previous round, 8 north zone teams, 12 south zone teams from level 3 and below and 12 teams from level 2) entered this stage.
:*12 Northern Territory clubs from level 2 and below entered this stage.
:*64 Queensland clubs (40 from the previous round, one team from the Central Coast area and 23 teams from levels 2 and 3) entered this stage.
:*32 South Australian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 Tasmanian clubs (7 from the previous round, 1 league winners from level 3, and 8 teams from level 2) entered this stage.
:*64 Victorian clubs (39 from the previous round and 25 teams from levels 3 and 4) entered this stage.
:*32 Western Australian clubs (21 from the previous round and 11 teams from level 2) entered this stage.

*Fifth round:
:*8 Australian Capital Territory clubs progressed to this stage.
:*32 New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 Northern New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage.
:*8 Northern Territory clubs (7 from the previous round and the winner of the 2024 NorZone Premier League) entered this stage.
:*32 Queensland clubs progressed to this stage.
:*32 Victorian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 South Australian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*8 Tasmanian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 Western Australian clubs progressed to this stage.

*Sixth round:
:*4 Australian Capital Territory clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 New South Wales club progressed to this stage.
:*8 Northern New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage.
:*4 Northern Territory clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 Queensland clubs progressed to this stage.
:*16 Victorian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*8 South Australian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*4 Tasmanian clubs progressed to this stage.
:*8 Western Australian clubs progressed to this stage.

*Seventh round:
:*2 Australian Capital Territory clubs progressed to this stage, which doubled as the Final of the Federation Cup.
:*8 New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage. The 4 winners also qualified for the final rounds of the Waratah Cup.
:*4 Northern New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage. The 2 winners also qualified for the Final of the NNSWF State Cup.
:*2 Northern Territory clubs progressed to this stage, which doubled as the NT Australia Cup Final.
:*8 Queensland clubs progressed to this stage; 1 from Regional Queensland, and 7 from South East Queensland. The 4 winners also qualified for the semi-finals of the Kappa Queensland Cup.
:*4 South Australian clubs progressed to this stage. The 2 winners also qualified for the final of the Federation Cup.
:*2 Tasmanian clubs progressed to this stage, which doubled as the Grand Final of the Milan Lakoseljac Cup.
:*8 Victorian clubs progressed to this stage. The 4 winners also qualified for the final rounds of the Dockerty Cup.
:*4 Western Australian clubs progressed to this stage. The 2 winners also qualified for the Final of the Football West State Cup.

*Play-off round:
:*The four lowest-ranked teams in the 2024–25 A-League Men played-off for two spots in the Round of 32.

Key to abbreviations

First round

;Notes:
*w/o = Walkover
*† = After Extra Time
*NNSW Byes: Barnsley United (6), Charlestown Junior (6), Fletcher (6) Greta Branxton (6), Kurri Kurri (6), Mayfield United Junior (6), Medowie (6), Nelson Bay (6), Southern Lakes United (6).
*QLD Byes: Atherton Eagles (6), Edge Hill United (5), Innisfail United (5), Leichhardt FC (5), Marlin Coast Rangers (5), Southside Comets (5), Stratford Dolphins (5).
*VIC Byes: Aspendale (9), Ballarat (9), Barwon (8), Bendigo City (9), Cleeland United (9), Darebin United (8), Docklands Athletic (8), East Bentleigh (9), Endeavour Hills Fire (9), Footscray United Rangers (9), Fortuna '60 (9), Glen Eira (13), Glen Waverley (9), Greenvale United (9), Keon Park (9), Kings Domain (8), Lara United (8), La Trobe University (9), Melton Phoenix (8), Mentone (8), Mitchell Rangers (9), Noble Park (9), Old Trinity Grammarians (9), Pakenham United (9), Thornbury Athletic (8), Watsonia Heights (8), Westside Strikers (8), Whitehorse United (9), Wyndham (9).

Second round

;Notes:
*w/o = Walkover
*† = After Extra Time
*NSW Byes: Arncliffe Aurora (5), Auburn FC (5), Banksia Tigers (5), Berowra FC (5), Caringbah Redbacks (5),Carlton Rovers (6), Carss Park (6), Coledale Waves (7), Colo FC (5), Connells Point Rovers (5), Coogee United (5), Coptic United (5), Corrimal Rangers (6), Doonside Hawks (5), Eastern Creek Pioneer (5), Eschol Park (5), Fairfield Bulls (5), Fairfield Eagles (6), Fairfield Patrician Brothers (5), Figtree FC (7), Forest Killarney (5), Gerringong Breakers (6), Glebe Gorillas (5), Gunners SC (5), Gymea United (5), Hazelbrook FC (5), Hills Spirit (10), Hurstville Glory (5), Kellyville Kolts (5), Lane Cove (5), Lilli Pilli (5), Lindfield FC (5), Liverpool Rangers (8), Liverpool Olympic (11), Macquarie Dragons (5), Macquarie United (5), Manly Vale (5), Marayong FC (5), Maroubra United (6), Mascot Kings (7), Moorebank Sports (5), Mount Annan Mustangs (5), Narrabeen FC (5), North Ryde (6), Oak Flats Kraken (7), Orange Waratah (5), Oran Park Rovers (5), Pagewood Botany (7), Parklea FC (6), Penrith FC (5), Phoenix FC (5), Randwick City (5), Roselea FC (6), Shellharbour FC (5), Springwood United (5), St Mary's Eagle Vale (5), Sydney CBD (6), Sylvania Heights (5), Tarrawanna Blueys (5), The Ponds (5) , Waverley Old Boys (5), Western Condors (5), Winston Hills (5), Wollongong United (5).
*NNSW Byes: Armidale City Westside (-), Boambee (-), Byron Bay (-), East Armidale United (-), Majos (-), North Companions (-), Port Saints (-), Pottsville Beach (-), Westlawn Tigers (-), Yamba (-).
*QLD Byes: AC Carina (5), Acacia Ridge (6), Annerley (6), Baringa (5), Bethania Rams (7), Brighton Bulldogs (7), Caloundra (5), Centenary Stormers (5), Coolum FC (-), Coomera (5), Doon Villa (5), Gatton Redbacks (-), Highfields (5), Kangaroo Point Rovers (7), Kawana (5), Kingscliff Wolves (5), Logan Metro (6), Logan Roos (-), Logan Village Falcons (7), Mackay Lions (5), Mackay Wanderers (5), Moggill (6), Mooroondu (8), Mt Gravatt Hawks (5), Mudgeeraba (6), Musgrave (5), Narangba Eagles (6), New Farm United (6), Newmarket (5), Noosa Lions (5), Old Bridge Salisbury (7), Ormeau (5), Oxley United (7), Pacific Pines (6), Pimpana City (6), Ripley Valley (6), Rockville Rovers (5), Runaway Bay (5), Southport Warriors (5), Surfers Paradise Apollo (5), Tarragindi Tigers (7), Tweed United (5), UQFC (5), Western Spirit (5), Westside Grovely (7), West Wanderers (5), Willowburn (5), Woombye Snakes (5), Yeronga Eagles (5).
*WA Byes: Bunbury Dynamos (-), Cracovia SC (6), Football Margaret River (-), Joondanna Blues (7), Kwinana United (6), Maccabi (5), Morley Windmills (5), North Beach (5), Peel United (5), Perth AFC (6), Port Kennedy (6), Queens Park (7), South Perth United (5), Woodvale FC (8).

Third round

;Notes:
*w/o = Walkover
*† = After Extra Time
*SA byes: Adelaide City (2), FK Beograd (2), Campbelltown City (2), Croydon FC (2), North Eastern MetroStars (2), Para Hills Knights (2), West Torrens Birkalla (2).
*TAS byes: Barnstoneworth United (4), Hobart City (3), Metro (3), University of Tasmania (3).

Fourth round

;Notes:
*w/o = Walkover
*† = After Extra Time

Fifth round

;Notes:
*† = After Extra Time
*NT Byes: Darwin Olympic (2)

Sixth round

;Notes:
*† = After Extra Time
*w/o = Walkover

Seventh round

;Notes:
*† = After Extra Time

A-League Men play-offs

The top nine placed A-League Men clubs from the 2024–25 A-League season gain automatic qualification to the Round of 32. The other four teams entered a play-off series to determine the remaining two positions.

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References

{{2024–25 in Asian football (AFC)

Preliminary rounds
Australia Cup preliminary rounds