Wellington Phoenix and Auckland FC have not been included in the 2026 Australia Cup.

In one of the most significant changes to the competition, which launched in 2014 as the FFA Cup, the national knockout cup competition will now only be open to Australian sides.

Football Australia has also scrapped the playoff between the bottom four A-League clubs in Darwin for two Round of 32 spots, with all 10 Australian A-League clubs now guaranteed entry for the competition that will continue to run roughly with the same timings as in 2025, starting during the A-League off-season, and culminating on the eve of the season. 

There is also a direct qualification spot for South Melbourne, as winner of the 2025 Australian Championship. 

South Melbourne celebrate the Australian Championship triumph. Photo: Mark Avellino / Football Australia

It is understood that the changes have come with a view of aligning with requirements from the Asian Football Confederation, and the winner of the competition will continue to qualify for the AFC Champions League Two competition, which Macarthur are currently competing in. 

As a result of the changes, there are now 21 positions available across the state Member Federations for qualification from each state’s cup competition, allocated as follows: Football NSW, Football Victoria, Football Queensland (four each), Football South Australia, Football West, Norther NSW Football (two each), Capital Football, Football Tasmania, Football Northern Territory (one each).

It is not impossible that we will see Western United in the Round of 32 either – they will be entered via the Football Victoria (VPL1) pathway, starting with the Preliminary Rounds for the 2026 season.

The changes also coincide with the introduction of the OFC Pro League in 2026.

While this allows Auckland FC a pathway through to FIFA’s inter continental competitions, Wellington were not included in that competition either, with South Island United FC chosen as the second New Zealand based side. 

Ironically, South Melbourne are also in the OFC Pro League, but are not eligible to progress to continental competitions through Oceania. 

The Australia Cup, which started as the FFA Cup in 2014 as a way to bridge the gap between the A-League, grassroots and Australia’s historic clubs, has run every year except for 2020, when it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Adelaide United are the most successful club, with three trophies, while Newcastle Jets are the reigning champions. Other clubs to have won the trophy include Sydney FC (two), Melbourne Victory (two), Macarthur (two) and Melbourne City. 

Mark Milligan steered Newcastle to the Australia Cup trophy. Photo: Football Australia

In recent years, the on-field gap has been bridged, especially with the timing of the competition, with Sydney United breaking through to make the 2022 decider, while Heidelberg United went on a fairy tale run in 2025. 

Until 2021, the National Premier Leagues champions earnt a direct spot and with the introduction of the Australian Championship, which kicked off in October 2025, there is another direct link provided by the Australia Cup between the different tiers in Australian football, and the grassroots.

Both Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix have been contacted for comment.