The Bulls will head to new territory to begin their Australia Cup title defence after being drawn against Perth Glory in Darwin for the competition’s play-off round.
On Thursday, Football Australia announced the play-off series involving four A-League teams will take place at Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park in July, in partnership with the Northern Territory state government. The draw pits Macarthur FC against Perth on Tuesday July 18 at 7PM (7:30 AEST) in the elimination match in the Top End.
The Australia Cup is the nation’s largest knockout competition of any sport, with over 770 clubs taking part this year and Glory did, of course, famously feature in each of the competition’s first two Finals in 2014 and 2015.
The winners of the two Playoff ties will each seal a spot in the Australia Cup 2023 Final Rounds alongside the top eight teams from the ISUZU UTE A-League Men’s 2022/23 regular season, as well as 22 Member Federation clubs from a variety of levels and locations from right across Australia’s football ecosystem.
Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, explained the reasoning behind the decision to move the Playoff fixtures to the Northern Territory.
“Whether it’s our senior and youth national teams or Football Australia competitions like the Australia Cup, we are committed to our strategy of taking elite football to as many cities as possible to showcase our leading established or emerging talent to different audiences and support the growth of football across Australia,” he said.
“Over the past 12 months, Football Australia has deliberately taken football activity to no less than seven different cities and we are excited that Darwin will be hosting the Australia Cup 2023 Playoffs in July through the support of the Northern Territory Government and Football Northern Territory.
“The Australia Cup Playoffs will provide football fans and event-goers throughout the Northern Territory and beyond with the opportunity to attend two high quality matches featuring four A-League Men teams during a period of time when the whole of Australia will take centre stage as co-hosts of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
The Bulls claimed their first piece of silverware by clinching the 2022 Australia Cup, in turn sealing a passage to Asia by automatically qualifying for the 2023 AFC Cup.
Every match in the Australia Cup 2023 Final Rounds – including the Playoffs – will be streamed live and free across the nation on 10 Play.
Tickets will go on general sale from 2pm WST today (Thursday 8 June) via http://australiacup.com.au/tickets.
Ticketing Details
Tickets for each match of the Australia Cup 2023 Final Rounds Playoffs are priced at $15 Adults, $10 Concession* and
$40 Family
*Concession Card Holders, Senior Card Holders, Students
**Children 3 years and under free unless occupying a seat
