2014 FFA Cup
The 2014 FFA Cup was the inaugural season of the FFA Cup, the main national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. 631 teams in total from around Australia entered the competition. Only 32 teams competed in the competition proper, including the 10 A-League teams and 22 Football Federation Australia member federation teams determined through individual state-based preliminary rounds held in early 2014. The FFA Cup competition proper commenced on 29 July 2014 and concluded with the FFA Cup Final on 16 December 2014.
The final was brought forward from Australia Day in order to avoid a clash with the 2015 Asian Cup, which was hosted by Australia.
The winner of the FFA Cup received $50,000 as part of a total prize money pool of $131,450.
Round and dates
Prize fund
Preliminary rounds
621 FFA member federations teams competed in various state-based preliminary rounds to win one of 22 places in the competition proper. Eight of the nine FFA member federations took part in the tournament, the exception being Northern Territory, whose participation commenced in 2015. Player registration numbers in each jurisdiction was used to determine the number of qualifying teams for each member federation:- NSW have seven teams qualify.
- Queensland have four teams qualify.
- Victoria have four teams qualify.
- Northern NSW have two teams qualify.
- Western Australia have two teams qualify.
- ACT have one team qualify.
- South Australia have one team qualify.
- Tasmania have one team qualify.
Teams
A total of 32 teams participated in the 2014 FFA Cup competition proper, ten of which came from the A-League, the remaining 22 teams from FFA member federations, as determined by the preliminary rounds. A-League clubs represent the highest level in the Australian [association football league system|Australian league system], where as member federation clubs come from Level 2 and below. The current season tier of member federation clubs is shown in parentheses.Draw
After the completion of the 2013–14 A-League season and the preliminary rounds by the respective member federations, the 32 teams were organised for the FFA Cup Round of 32 draw, the first of four draws in the competition proper. The draw for the round of 32 used three pots to arrange the teams: Pot A included the four A-League teams to reach the semi-finals in the 2013–14 A-League Finals series, Pot B included the remaining six A-League teams and Pot C contained the 22 member federation teams. Teams were drawn randomly into predetermined positions. From the round of 16, Quarter-finals and Semi-finals, teams will be allocated in one of two pots. The remaining A-League teams were allocated to Pot A and the remaining member federation teams into Pot B. In each draw, teams were again drawn randomly into predetermined positions.The positions into which teams were drawn into were structured to ensure that member federation teams have the best chance of advancing in the competition. The draw ensuresd a minimum of one non-A-League team reached the Semi-finals stage, a minimum of three in the Quarter-finals and a minimum of nine in the round of 16. This structure was achieved by allocating randomly drawn teams into predetermined positions, with some A-League teams guaranteed to be drawn against one another.
The draw for each round did not take place until after the scheduled completion of the previous round. Each draw also determined which teams will play at home; that is, if a member federation team drew an A-League team, the member federation team would host the fixture. However, where two A-League teams or two member federation teams were drawn together, the first team drawn would be the host, with the exception that Wellington Phoenix was required to play all of their matches in Australia, away from home.
Bracket
Round of 32
The lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round were Hakoah [Sydney City East FC|Hakoah Sydney City East] and South Springvale. They were the only soccer league system|level 4] teams left in the competition.''All times listed below are at AEST''
Round of 16
The lowest ranked side that qualified for this round was South Springvale. They were the only level 4 team left in the competition.''All times listed below are at AEST''
Quarter-finals
The lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round were Adelaide City, Bentleigh Greens and Palm Beach. They were the only level 2 teams left in the competition.''All times listed below are at AEDT''
Semi-finals
The lowest ranked side that qualified for this round was Bentleigh Greens. They were the only level 2 team left in the competition.''All times listed below are at AEDT''
Final
Top goalscorers
;Notes- Goals scored in preliminary rounds not included.
Broadcasting rights