FFA Cup

FFA Cup
Founded 2014 (2014)
Region Australia
Number of teams 781
Current champions Sydney FC
(1st title)
Television broadcasters Fox Sports
Website FFA Cup
2018 FFA Cup

The Football Federation Australia Cup, commonly known as the FFA Cup, is the main national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. The annual competition is organised by and named after Football Federation Australia. It features all the teams from the top division, the A-League, as well as from lower tiers in the Australian leagues, including the National Premier Leagues.[1] Teams enter the competition in progressional stages, with qualifying rounds used to determine which lower division teams eventually join those from the A-League in later stages of the cup. From its inception to 2017 it was sponsored by the Westfield Group and known as the Westfield FFA Cup.[2]

Adelaide United, Melbourne Victory, Melbourne City and Sydney FC have won one title each. The current champions are Sydney FC after defeating Adelaide United in the 2017 Final.

History

Australia has a long history of regional and state-based knockout cup competitions. However, a sustainable national knockout cup competition that encompassed clubs on all levels of Australian league system has been hard to realise. Prior to the FFA Cup, the first and only Australian national knockout tournament was the Australia Cup. The Australia Cup was founded in 1962 but was abolished in 1968 after just seven seasons of competition. In 1977 a knockout competition was founded to run in parallel with the now defunct National Soccer League (NSL). The NSL Cup involved Australian association football clubs competing in the then top-flight NSL and limited clubs from state based competitions. The NSL Cup ceased after the 1996–97 tournament. An A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup competition ran between 2005–2008 but involved only the teams from the A-League and was not a traditional knockout format.[3]

The FFA Cup was previously scheduled to commence in 2013, though after suffering numerous delays due to FFA's 2012 television coverage deal and rising cost concerns the competition was put on hold.[4][5] On 29 August 2013, it was announced that a national FFA Cup would commence in 2014, after what would be two years of organising the knock out competition.[6] On 14 October 2013, FFA announced that it had appointed Sam Chadwick as General Manager of the FFA Cup.[7] On 24 February 2014, the FFA Cup was formally launched by David Gallop.[8]

The first member federation club to qualify for the FFA Cup was Tuggeranong United from the Australian Capital Territory. Tuggeranong United qualified for the 2014 FFA Cup as the winners of the 2013 ACT Federation Cup.[9] The first games in the tournament proper occurred on 29 July 2014, with four games from the Round of 32 played concurrently. In 2014 former three time NSL Champions Adelaide City became the first semi-professional state-league club to defeat a professional A-League club, defeating Western Sydney Wanderers 1–0.

Eligibility

The 32 teams that make up the FFA Cup competition proper are the 10 A-League teams with the remaining 22 teams composed of various semi-professional and amateur qualifiers, referred to as "Member Federation Clubs", from each of the state federations.[10] The A-League clubs enter the competition at the Round of 32.

Wellington Phoenix have additional restrictions imposed as they are a New Zealand-based team, and must play all of their matches in Australia, away from home.[11]

The number of clubs representing each federation is determined by player registration numbers in each jurisdiction, and reviewed annually. The Northern Territory did not participate in the inaugural competition, however have been represented since 2015.[12]

From the 2015 edition of the competition onwards the National Premier Leagues Champion of the previous year, also qualifies for the FFA Cup Round of 32. The first club to qualify via this method was North Eastern MetroStars from South Australia who won the 2014 National Premier Leagues Finals Series.[13]

AreaCompetitionRound of 32 Qualifiers
20142015201620172018
NationalA-League1010101010
National Premier Leagues–1111
Australian Capital TerritoryFederation Cup11111
Northern New South WalesNNSWF State Cup (2014 only)22222
New South WalesWaratah Cup75555
Northern TerritorySport Minister's Cup–1111
QueenslandLinked with the parallel Canale Cup44444
South AustraliaFederation Cup11111
TasmaniaMilan Lakoseljac Cup11111
VictoriaDockerty Cup44444
Western AustraliaState Cup22222
Total Entrants631648704735781

Format

The competition proper is a 32-team knockout tournament with pairings for each round drawn based on a seeding system to ensure progression of teams from Member Federations.

Replays are not used in the FFA Cup. In the event of a match being drawn after the completion of 90 minutes, extra time is played, then a penalty shoot-out if required.[10]

A draw for each round is made from the Round of 32 to the Semi-Finals. Clubs are allocated into various pots depending on the clubs method of qualification and the specific round of competition.[10] The draw also determines which teams will play at home. If a Member Federation Club draws an A-League team, the Member Federation Club will host the fixture. However, if two clubs at the same level are drawn together, the first teams drawn will host.[12]

Unlike "normal" application of seeds where a draw is made to ensure that the top seeds don't meet until the latter stages of the competition, the draw for the FFA Cup is seeded in such a way that it ensures the progression of lesser seeds to generate exposure and revenue for grassroots football clubs. The seeded FFA Cup draw ensures at least three Member Federation Clubs will qualify for the Quarter Finals with one club guaranteed to make the Semi Final.[10]

Continental qualification

There have previously been plans for the FFA Cup winners to qualify for the AFC Champions League competition, although this is yet to occur.[12][16]

Trophy

The FFA Cup Trophy is awarded to the winning team.

At the end of the final, the winning team is presented with a trophy, known as the "FFA Cup Trophy", which they will hold until the following year's final.

The trophy is a large traditional cup style trophy with an intentional resemblance to the historical Australia Cup trophy which ran from 1962 to 1968.[17] The cup itself is made from silver-solded brass, which is plated with 24 carat-gold and sterling silver.[18] It has two handles which each have the badge of Football Federation Australia inscribed on the inside corners. Also inscribed on the cup is the design of the cup and the words FFA Cup. The trophy features two footballs, one as the base of the cup and the other as a trim, on the very top of the cup lid.

The FFA Cup Trophy was created by D3 Design, who also designed the A-League, W-League and NPL Champions silverware.[18]

Sponsorship

In its inaugural season the FFA Cup joined with an official naming rights partner. In 2014, Westfield Group was announced as the sponsor for the first three seasons of the cup tournament, known for commercial purposes as the "Westfield FFA Cup".[19]

Between 2014–2016 Umbro supplied match balls for all FFA Cup matches.[19] The FFA Cup Match Ball, the Umbro Neo 150 Elite, was specially designed for the competition.[20] Between 2017–2019 Mitre will supply the Mitre Delta Hyperseam as the official FFA Cup match ball after a public vote to select between three alternate ball designs.[21]

Media coverage

In the tournament's first season, 10 matches were broadcast live on Fox Sports. One of which a Round of 32 match, two Round of 16 matches, and all matches from the quarter-finals onwards.[11] In addition, FFA Cup draws from the Round of 32 onwards were also televised live on Fox Sports.[19] In 2015 and 2016 Fox Sports streamed live all non-broadcast games via their online services.[22][23]

Internationally, at least 10 FFA Cup matches will be broadcast live in South Asian nations, such as: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, after a three season deal with TEN Sports in 2014[24].

In 2017, 5 FFA Cup matches (from quarter finals) will be broadcast live by beIN Sports in Asia-Pacific nations, such as: Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. 7 FFA Cup matches (from round of 16) will be broadcast live by BT Sport in UK and Republic of Ireland.

In 2018, 6 FFA Cup matches (from quarter finals) will be broadcast live by ESPN+ in USA.[25]

Currently the ABC holds the Radio broadcast right for FFA Cup matches, including the Final, live via ABC Radio Grandstand.[26]

Finals

Season Champion Score Runner-up Venue Attendance
2014 Adelaide United 1–0 Perth Glory Hindmarsh Stadium 16,142
2015 Melbourne Victory 2–0 Perth Glory AAMI Park 15,098
2016 Melbourne City             1–0 Sydney FC                 AAMI Park         18,751
2017 Sydney FC           2–1 (a.e.t.) Adelaide United              Allianz Stadium       13,452
2018                       Coopers Stadium  

Records

Final

All matches

Round of 32 onwards

Preliminary rounds

  • Biggest win: 26, Mackay West United 0–26 Mackay Magpies (Third Round, 26 February 2016).[27]
  • Highest scoring: 26, Mackay West United 0–26 Mackay Magpies (Third Round, 26 February 2016).[27]
  • Most clubs competing for trophy in a season: 781 (2018).

Individual records

Round of 32 onwards

Preliminary rounds

Results

Team Winners Runners-up Best Result
Adelaide United 1 1 Champions (2014)
Sydney FC 1 1 Champions (2017)
Melbourne Victory 1 0 Champions (2015)
Melbourne City 1 0 Champions (2016)
Perth Glory 0 2 Runners-up (2014, 2015)

See also

References

  1. ↑ D'Alfonso, Daniel (3 June 2011). "FFA Cup to embrace country teams". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Harris, Gillian (21 December 2017). "FFA Cup Naming Rights Partner Update" (PDF). Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  3. ↑ "FFA Cup a new old tradition". Football Federation Australia.
  4. ↑ "Live Chat with Lyall Recap". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  5. ↑ Smithies, Tom (7 August 2012). "FFA Cup on hold due to cost concerns". Herald Sun. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "FFA Cup set for 2014 kick off". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "Football Federation Australia appoints FFA Cup General Manager". Football Federation Australia. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  8. ↑ Gorman, Joe (24 February 2014). "Will the FFA Cup help Australia's 'old soccer' clubs?". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  9. ↑ "Tuggeranong United gets nod for FFA Cup". The Canberra Times. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "FFA Cup How Draw Works". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "2014 FFA Cup FAQs". Football Federation Australia. 24 February 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-04-20. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 Weiner, David (2013). "Football Federation Australia reveals new FFA Cup competition and trophy". Fox Sports. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Cup spot the reward in PS4 NPL Finals Series". footballaustralia.com.au. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "Saturday night final for Westfield FFA Cup in 2015". Football Federation Australia. 19 February 2015. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  15. ↑ "Draw revamped for 2016 Westfield FFA Cup". Football Federation Australia. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  16. ↑ "FFA wants cup-winner to earn spot in Asian Champions League, hopes to achieve goal by 2016". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 15 December 2014. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  17. ↑ Bossi, Dominic (24 February 2014). "FFA Cup: Minnows get a shot at A-League clubs". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
  18. 1 2 "EPL trophy influenced FFA Cup design". Football Federation Australia. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  19. 1 2 3 "Westfield new naming rights partner of FFA Cup". Football Federation Australia. 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  20. ↑ "Umbro launch official Westfield FFA Cup ball". Football Federation Australia. 4 June 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  21. ↑ "Vote on the new Mitre Westfield FFA Cup ball". Football Federation Australia. 2017-01-27. Retrieved 2017-01-31.
  22. ↑ "Fox Sports to Live stream Westfield FFA Cup matches". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  23. ↑ "FOX SPORTS to LIVE stream Westfield FFA Cup matches". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  24. ↑ Greco, John (8 May 2014). "A-League and FFA Cup's Asia TV deal". Football Federation Australia. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  25. ↑ "Australia - FFA Cup Live Streaming and TV Listings, Live Scores, Fixtures, Results, Tables, Videos, News :: Live Soccer TV". www.livesoccertv.com. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  26. ↑ http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/how-to-get-around-the-ffa-cup/7xkkt9t3rbml1pkytbnlnfboq
  27. 1 2 "FFA Cup Match Center – Mackay West United 0–26 Mackay Magpies". Football Federation Australia. 26 February 2016.
  28. ↑ Luttrell, Alex (18 April 2017). "Ben Hamlett enters the record books with 10 goals in a single match". The Mercury. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
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