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.
Round Number of fixtures Clubs A-League ACT NSW NNSW NT QLD SA TAS VIC WAFirst round 53 + 45 byes 718 → 665 — — — 7 Mar — 1 Feb — — 14–17 Feb —Second round 114 + 137 byes 665 → 551 — — 6–16 Mar 15 Feb–25 Mar — 8 Feb–1 Mar — — 28 Feb–3 Mar 22–23 FebThird round 204 + 11 byes 551 → 347 — 11–13 Mar 4–31 Mar 22 Feb–3 Apr — 14 Feb–3 Apr 7–10 Mar 8 Mar 11–25 Mar 14–16 MarFourth round 166 347 → 181 — 25 Mar–10 Apr 8–10 Apr 1 Mar–22 Apr 15 Mar–8 Apr 1–12 Apr 28–30 Mar 28–30 Mar 8–21 Apr 11–13 AprFifth round 83 + 1 bye 181 → 97 — 29 Apr–8 May 22 Apr–1 May 15 Mar–13 May 1–22 Apr 22–30 Apr 17–21 Apr 18–21 Apr 29 Apr–14 May 2–3 MaySixth round 42 97 → 55 — 20–21 May 6–13 May 7 Jun 29 Apr–3 May 17 May–21 May 13–21 May 17–18 May 20–27 May 27–28 MayA-League play-off round 2 55 → 53 13–14 May — — — — — — — — —Seventh round 21 53 → 32 — 7 Jun 28 May–4 Jun 11 Jun 20 May 14–18 Jun 11–18 Jun 9 Jun 10–17 Jun 17–18 Jun
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 Final of the NT Australia Cup. 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 FederationZone ACT = Australian Capital Territory NSW = New South Wales NNSW = Northern New South Wales NTH = North STH = South NT = Northern Territory ASP = Alice Springs DAR = Darwin QLD = Queensland CC = Central CoastFNG = Far North and GulfNTH = NorthernREG = Regional Queensland (general)WB = Wide BayWC = Whitsunday Coast SEQ = South East Queensland SA = South Australia TAS = Tasmania VIC = Victoria WA = Western Australia
First round
Fed. Zone Tie no Home team (Tier) Score Away team (Tier)Northern New South Wales NNSW STH 1Garden Suburb (6) 3–2 Merewether United (6)Queensland QLD FNG 2Redlynch Strikers United (5) 0–2† Mareeba United (5)VictoriaVIC–3 Brunswick Zebras (7) 5–1 Riversdale SC (8)VIC–4 Moreland Eagles (9) 4–1 Gisborne FC (9)VIC–5 Greater Dandenong (7) 1–0 East Kew (8)VIC–6 Monash University (8) 8–0 Tarneit (9)VIC–7 Newport Storm (9) 0–7 Altona North (7)VIC–8 Boronia (9) 0–8 Surf Coast (7)VIC–9 Somerville (8) w/o Maidstone (9)VIC–10 Plenty Valley Lions (7) 3–0 FC Birrarung (9)VIC–11 Sandringham (7) 4–0 Frankston Pines (8)VIC–12 Alphington (9) 2–3 Barnstoneworth (8)VIC–13 FC Eaglehawk (10) w/o Mount Martha (9)VIC–14 Monash City Villareal (8) 2–1 Sale United (10)VIC–15 Mount Waverley City (8) 1–2 Ringwood City (8)VIC–16 Swinburne (11) w/o St. Kevin's Old Boys (9)VIC–17 Deakin Ducks (8) 5–2 Epsom FC (10)VIC–18 Templestowe Wolves (9) 3–1 Heatherton United (7)VIC–19 Golden City (11) 0–5 Croydon City (7)VIC–20 Maryborough (10) 1–7 Melbourne City (8)VIC–21 Diamond Valley United (7) 1–4 Hoppers Crossing (7)VIC–22 Bell Park (8) 2–1 Spring Hills (9)VIC–23 Laverton (7) 3–2 Ashburton (7)VIC–24 Baxter (8) 5–1 Colac Otway Rovers (12)VIC–25 Moreland United (8) w/o Springvale City (8)VIC–26 Old Melburnians (9) 0–1 Glenroy Lions (8)VIC–27 Middle Park (7) 7–0 La Trobe University (Bendigo) (10)
Fed. Zone Tie no Home team (Tier) Score Away team (Tier)VIC–28 Keysborough (9) w/o Heidelberg Stars (8)VIC–29 Ballarat North United (10) w/o Lyndale United (8)VIC–30 FC Noble Hurricanes (8) w/o Ocean Grove (9)VIC–31 Mount Eliza (9) 2–1 Casey Panthers (9)VIC–32 Manningham Juventus (8) 4–1 Myrtleford Savoy (10)VIC–33 Old Ivanhoe (9) 2–1 Truganina Hornets (9)VIC–34 Moonee Valley Knights (8) 1–4 Waverley Wanderers (7)VIC–35 White Star Dandenong (7) 3–1† Doreen (9)VIC–36 Bundoora United (7) 0–2 West Preston (8)VIC–37 Endeavour United (8) 1–0 Fawkner SC (8)VIC–38 Knox United (8) 2–1 Meadow Park (9)VIC–39 Bacchus Marsh Scorpions (10) 0–1 Heidelberg Eagles (7)VIC–40 ETA Buffalo (9) w/o Elwood City (7)VIC–41 Moonee Ponds United (8) 3–1 Chelsea (8)VIC–42 Dandenong South (7) 0–1† Monbulk Rangers (8)VIC–43 Point Cook (8) 3–0 West Point (8)VIC–44 Warrnambool Rangers (10) 1–3† Rosebud (8)VIC–45 Balmoral (8) 5–1 Castlemaine Goldfields (12)VIC–46 Sunbury United (7) 2–3 Hampton Park United Sparrows (7)VIC–47 Seaford United (9) 1–2 Yarra Jets (8)VIC–48 Lilydale Montrose (9) 1–2 Burwood City (9)VIC–49 Bunyip District (9) 1–2† Sebastopol Vikings (7)VIC–50 Sandown Lions (8) w/o Brighton SC (9)VIC–51 Epping City (7) w/o Roxburgh Park (9)VIC–52 Melbourne University (8) w/o Barton United (9)VIC–53 Keilor Wolves (8) 3–2 Rowville Eagles (7)
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