Who are the 32 clubs competing in the 2026 Australia Cup?

Preston Lions' Nahuel Bonada in action for former club South Melbourne during the 2025 Australia Cup.
Preston Lions' Nahuel Bonada in action for former club South Melbourne during the 2025 Australia Cup.Josh Chadwick / Getty Images via AFP

For the first time in its 13-season history, New Zealand pair Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix have been barred from Australia's national knockout competition, opening the door for a couple of extra debutants.

The competition enters its 'proper' phase on Tuesday night with the first two of the 16 Round of 32 matches, which are to be completed over six separate matchdays through to Thursday 30 July. 

Three of the four matches to take place in the opening week will feature new entrants when NPL Queensland club Rochedale Rovers FC hosts New South Wales club SD Raiders, whilst there'll be a pair of debutants on Wednesday when newly crowned South Australia Cup champions FK Beograd host second-tier Melbourne-based North Sunshine Eagles FC. 

How many clubs does your state or territory have entered into the Round of 32? We've broken it down one-by-one further below to give you a little bit of background on each participant. 

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 (five clubs)

BRISBANE ROAR

Australia Cup Stadium: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (capacity: 52,500)

How they got here: Qualified as an A-League club

Round of 32 opponents: Sydney Olympic (NPL NSW), away

Previous season: Finished 11th in 2025/26 A-League

Best Australia Cup finish: 2023, runners-up (lost to Sydney FC 3-1)

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

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: Perth Glory (A-League), home

Current season: 2nd 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

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: Brunswick Juventus (NPL2 Victoria), home

Current season: 1st in 2026 Far North & Gulf league

Best Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

Players to watch: Cooper Kennedy (9) and Chris O'Hare (9) are the club's leading goalscorers for the current league season

PENINSULA POWER

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: APIA Leichhardt (NPL NSW), away

Current season: 1st 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

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: SD Raiders (NSW NPL), home

Current season: 9th in 2026 NPL Queensland

Best Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

Player to watch: Obren Kljajic is their top scorer (11) of the current NPL Queensland season.

New South Wales (11 clubs)

APIA LEICHHARDT

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: Peninsula Power (NPL Queensland), home

Current season: 2nd 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

Australia Cup Stadium: Polytec Stadium, Gosford (capacity: 20,000)

How they got here: Qualified as A-League club  

Round of 32 opponents: Sydney United 58 (NPL NSW), 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

Australia Cup Stadium: Campbelltown Sports Stadium (capacity: 17,500)

How they got here: Qualified as A-League club  

Round of 32 opponents: Azzurri United (NPL Northern Territory), 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

Australia Cup Stadium: Maitland Regional Sportsground (capacity: 8,000)

How they got here: 

Round of 32 opponents: Fremantle City (NPL Western Australia), home

Current season: 4th in NPL Northern NSW

Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2019)

Players to watch: Braedyn Crowley (14) is their leading scorer of the current NPL season. 

NEWCASTLE JETS

Australia Cup Stadium: McDonald Jones Stadium (capacity: 33,000)

How they got here: Qualified as A-League club 

Round of 32 opponents: Preston Lions (NPL Victoria), 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

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: Rochedale Rovers (NPL Queensland), away

Current season: 12th 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

Australia Cup Stadium: Allianz Stadium, Sydney (capacity: 45,500)

How they got here: Qualified as A-League club

Round of 32 opponents: Bayswater City (NPL Western Australia), 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

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: Brisbane Roar (A-League), home

Current season: 16th in 2026 NPL NSW

Best Australia Cup finish: Winners (1983, 1985)

Players to watchSebastian 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

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: Central Coast Mariners (A-League), home

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

Australia Cup Stadium: Commbank Stadium (capacity: 30,000)

How they got here: Qualified as A-League club

Round of 32 opponents: Tigers FC (NPL ACT), away

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

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: Melbourne City (A-League), home

Current season: 3rd in NPL Northern NSW

Best Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2025)

Players to watch: Brock Beveridge (12) is their leading scorer of the current NPL season. 

Victoria (7 clubs)

BRUNSWICK JUVENTUS

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: Marlin Coast Rangers (Far North & Gulf), away

Current season: 3rd in NPL2 Victoria

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

Players to watch: Triantafilos Skapetis (9) is the club's leading goalscorer, starting off the season with six strikes in his first five appearances.

HEIDELBERG UNITED

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: Cumberland United (NPL South Australia), away

Current season: 5th 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

Australia Cup Stadium: AAMI Park (capacity: 30,000)

How they got here: Qualified as an A-League side

Round of 32 opponents: Weston Bears (NPL Northern NSW), 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

Australia Cup Stadium: AAMI Park (capacity: 30,000)

How they got here: Qualified as an A-League side

Round of 32 opponents: Kingborough Lions United (NPL Tasmania), away

Previous season: Finished in the 2025/26 Elimination Finals

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Winners (2015, 2021)

Players to watch: Harrison 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

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: FK Beograd (NPL South Australia), away

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

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: Newcastle Jets (A-League), home

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

Australia Cup Stadium: Lakeside Stadium (capacity: 12,000)

How they got here: Qualified as 2025 Australian Championship winners

Round of 32 opponents: Adelaide United (A-League), home

Current season: 6th 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)

KINGBOROUGH LIONS UNITED

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: Melbourne Victory (A-League), home

Current season: 2nd in NPL Tasmania

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

Players to watch: Joel Badger (12) is the club's leading goalscorer of the league season.

South Australia (3 clubs)

ADELAIDE UNITED

Australia Cup Stadium: Coopers Stadium (capacity: 16,500)

How they got here: Qualified as an A-League club

Round of 32 opponents: South Melbourne (NPL Victoria), away

Previous season: Semi-finals of 2025/26 A-League

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Winners (2014, 2018, 2019)

Players to watch: Luka Jovanovic stays on for another season after scoring 11 goals last season - nearly three times as many as any other of their current players.

CUMBERLAND UNITED

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: Heidelberg United (NPL Victoria), home

Current season: 7th in South Australia State League 1

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

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

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: North Sunshine Eagles (NPL2 Victoria), home

Current season: 4th in NPL South Australia

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

Players to watch: Lorenzo Boselli (9) is their top goalscorer for this NPL season.

Western Australia (3 clubs)

BAYSWATER CITY

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: Sydney FC (A-League), home

Current season: 2nd in NPL Western Australia

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2014, 2019)

Players to watch: Chris Jackson (10) is the club's top scorer for this league season. 

FREMANTLE CITY

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: Maitland FC (NPL Northern NSW), away

Current season: 5th 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

Australia Cup Stadium: HBF Park, Perth (capacity: 20,500)

How they got here: Qualified as an A-League club

Round of 32 opponents: Lions FC (NPL Queensland), 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)

TIGERS FC

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: Western Sydney Wanderers (A-League), home

Current season: 3rd in NPL ACT

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Round of 32 (2019, 2021)

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)

AZZURRI UNITED

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: Macarthur FC (A-League), home

Current season: 1st in NT Men's Premier League

Best FFA/Australia Cup finish: Debuting in Round of 32

Players to watch: Cai Pritchard is one of the team's most talented strikers 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

Aaron Murphy
Aaron MurphyFlashscore