Football Federation Australia today confirmed the format of the 2014 FFA Cup.

 

1. What is the FFA Cup?

The FFA Cup is a national knockout tournament run by FFA in conjunction with the State and Territory Member Federations in Queensland, NSW, Northern NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

Each and every cup tie must be decided on the day, with extra time and penalties to decide results of matches drawn after 90 minutes.

Over 600 clubs will play in the feeder competitions run by the states and territories. The Hyundai A-League clubs join the competition in the Round of 32, alongside 22 clubs who have progressed from the ranks of the semi-professional and amateur tiers.
The 2014 FFA Cup final will be played on Tuesday 16 December.

2. How are the slots for the Round of 32 decided?

Each state and territory is allocated a number of places in the Round of 32, based on the number of registered players in each jurisdiction. Each state and territory decides the qualification route. For example, in some states, this will be the winner of the state-based knock out cup. In other states, all semi-finallists will qualify.

The final allocation for the Round of 32 comprises:

a) Twenty-two (22) Member Federation Clubs comprising:

• Football NSW – 7 Clubs
• Football Federation Victoria – 4 Clubs
• Football Queensland – 4 Clubs
• Football West – 2 Clubs
• NNSW Football – 2 Clubs
• Capital Football – 1 Club
• Football Federation SA – 1 Club
• Football Federation Tasmania – 1 Club
• Northern Territory will participate in 2015 FFA Cup

b) All ten (10) Hyundai A-League Clubs.

3. How many FFA Cup matches will be broadcast live on Fox Sports?

There will be a minimum of 10 matches broadcast on Fox Sports. One (1) Round of 32 Match, two (2) Round of 16 Match, and all Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and the FFA Cup Final.

Fox Sports may elect to broadcast additional FFA Cup matches from the Round of 32.

The first FFA Cup match broadcast live on Fox Sports will be on the opening night on Tuesday 29 July 2014.

All broadcast matches will kick off at 7.30pm.

4. What are the Qualifying Tournament dates and formats for each State and Territory?

Member Federation Qualifying Tournament Dates Notes:

Capital Football
15 March 2014 – 2 April 2014
Single FFA Cup entrant known on 2 April 2014

Football Federation South Australia
15 February 2014 – 31 May 2014
Single FFA Cup entrant known on 31 May 2014

Football West
5 April 2014 – 19 July 2014
Two FFA Cup entrants known on 2 June 2014

Football New South Wales
15 March 2014 – 6 July 2014
Seven FFA Cup entrants known on 5 June 2014

Football Queensland
11 February 2014 – late July 2014
Four FFA Cup entrants known on 7 June 2014

Football Federation Victoria
1 March 2014 – 7 September 2014
Four FFA Cup entrants known on 9 June 2014

Football Federation Tasmania
9 March 2014 – 10 June 2014
Single FFA Cup entrant known on 10 June 2014

Northern New South Wales Football
15 February 2014 – 22 June 2014
Two FFA Cup entrants known on 22 June 2014

5. What are the dates of the 2014 FFA Cup matches?

2014 FFA Cup Match Dates Round Dates

Round of 32
Tuesday 29 July 2014 (4 Matches)
Tuesday 5 August 2014 (4 Matches)
Tuesday 12 August 2014 (4 Matches)
Tuesday 19 August 2014 (4 Matches)

Round of 16
Tuesday 16 September 2014 (4 Matches)
Tuesday, 23 September 2014 (4 Matches)

Quarter Finals
Tuesday 14 October 2014 (2 Matches)
Tuesday 28 October 2014 (2 Matches)

Semi Finals
Tuesday 11 November 2014 (1 Match)
Tuesday 25 November 2014 (1 Match)

Cup Final
Tuesday 16 December 2014
2014 FFA Cup FAQs

6. What are the Draw Principles for the FFA Cup Draw?

The Draw Principles aim to give grassroots clubs an even chance to be giant-killers against the elite of the Hyundai A-League. This is the essence of the FFA Cup.

Therefore, the Draw Principles seek to enable fixtures between A-League and semi-pro and amateur clubs throughout the draw.

In addition, the Draw Principles balance the vagaries of different season schedules between the professional tier (predominantly summer) and the non-professional tiers (predominantly winter).

Further, the Draw Principles take into account the impact of Hyundai A-League finals and Asian Champions League commitments.

For the live Round of 32 draw, there will be three (3) Pots from which the participating Clubs will be drawn as follows:

• Pot A – the Hyundai A-League Clubs who finish in the Top 4 of the 2013/14 Season after the Final Series (i.e. make the Hyundai Semi-Finals).
• Pot B – the Hyundai A-League Clubs who finish in the Bottom 6 of the 2013/14 Season after the Finals Series.
• Pot C – the 22 qualified Member Federation Clubs.

Pot A will be drawn first until empty, the draw will then continue with Pot B drawn until empty and then

Pot C drawn until all Clubs have been allocated a fixture.

From the Round of 16, Quarter Finals and Semi Finals, Clubs will be allocated into one of two (2) pots for the Live Draws:

• a) Pot A – Hyundai A-League Clubs
• b) Pot B – Member Federation Clubs

Positions in the draw will be numbered. Clubs will then be allocated positions in number order as drawn (i.e. first Hyundai A-League Club will be in position 1). Clubs will be drawn from Pot A until empty, and then Pot B until all Clubs have been allocated a fixture.

7. Why are Hyundai A-League Clubs seeded into the Round of 32?

Consideration has been given to season phasing and providing each Club with the best opportunity to compete at full strength.

This seeding for the Round of 32 provides Hyundai A-League Clubs with some certainty in order to plan pre-season schedules around FFA Cup matches. Appreciating this is a period when Hyundai A-League Clubs generally do not play competitive matches, it also ensures there is an equality of off-season across all 10 Hyundai A-League Clubs, as those Clubs who play later in the 2013/14 Hyundai A-League Finals Series are seeded into the later Round of 32 matches in order to maximise player availability during the traditional off-season.

The match schedule also avoids a Round 16 fixture clash for Hyundai A-League Clubs who may be participating in a AFC Asian Champions League Quarter Final on 17 September 2014, and provides a 3 week break and clear air in the lead up to the start of the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League Season (on 10 October 2014).

8. Why does the FFA Cup draw produce a Semi-Final with at least one Member Federation Club?

The Draw Principles provide for at least one Member Federation Club to qualify for the 2014 FFA Cup Semi Finals. It is important that the FFA Cup is differentiated from existing competitions and provides a genuine opportunity for grassroots and NPL clubs to compete on the national stage.

Member Federation Club(s) that progress to the FFA Cup Semi-Finals will have earned their birth. In order for a Member Federation Club to qualify for the Semi Final of the FFA Cup, the Club would have already had to, firstly, qualify via their relevant State Cup and, secondly, win three FFA Cup Final Round Matches.

9. Why is Wellington Phoenix participating in the FFA Cup?

As a Club licensed by FFA to participate in the Hyundai A-League Club, Wellington Phoenix should be afforded the same opportunity as other Hyundai A-League Clubs to play in the FFA Cup. As a professional club, Wellington Phoenix is not able to play in New Zealand Football’s Chatham Cup.

In accordance with FIFA Regulations, Wellington Phoenix’s participation in the FFA Cup has been approved by FIFA, the AFC, the OFC and New Zealand Football.

Wellington Phoenix will play all FFA Cup matches in Australia.

10. Will FFA cover the costs of travel for competing Clubs?

FFA will cover reasonable flights, ground transport and accommodation for a travelling party of 21 for each travelling Away Club.

11. Who retains the rights to ticket revenue?

The home Club will incur applicable venue hosting costs and receive all associated ticket revenue, excluding the FFA Cup Final which will be run by FFA.

12. How will the home Clubs be determined?

Where matches involve Member Federation Clubs only, the first drawn Club will be given hosting rights. Where matches involve a Member Federation Club and a Hyundai A-League Club, the Member Federation Club will be given the right to host. Where both Clubs involved are Hyundai A-League Clubs, the first drawn Club will have hosting rights.

13. Will suburban grounds be able to meet the FFA Cup Venue and Security Standards for broadcast matches?

FFA wants to embrace the unique atmosphere of cup competitions and play as many FFA Cup matches at suburban grounds as possible. However, each venue will need to meet appropriate Minimum Venue and Security Standards that will be in place for the FFA Cup.

14. Why are all matches scheduled to be played on a Tuesday night?
This creates a consistency for the viewer and fan to identify with Tuesday night as the night to watch the FFA Cup.

Not all FFA Cup matches will necessarily be played on a Tuesday night. For player welfare reasons, matches may be rescheduled to Wednesday depending on the league fixtures of the participating Clubs.

15. Why is the 2014 FFA Cup Final not on a weekend?

This was not possible for 2014 given the busy 2014/15 Season Fixture due to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. It is the intention for the FFA Cup Final for 2015 onwards to be on a weekend, to emphasise the importance of the FFA Cup Final within Australia’s football calendar and consistent with national knockout competitions in other countries.

16. Where will the FFA Cup Final be played?

Similar to the Hyundai A-League Grand Final, the venue for the Cup Final will be determined in the interest of FFA, competing Clubs, their members and supporters.

17. Will the respective state Cups continue in 2015 onwards?

This is still to be determined and is a decision for each Member Federation.
As each Member Federation will operate the FFA Cup Preliminary Rounds for 2015 onwards, the Preliminary Rounds may replace some existing State Cups or the State Cups may vary in format.