| 2026 Australia Cup South Australian preliminary rounds | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | Australia |
| Dates | 20 February–11 July [1] |
| Teams | 58 |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 21 |
| Goals scored | 102 (4.86 per match) |
The 2026 Football South Australia Federation Cup, also known as the Australia Cup South Australian preliminary rounds [a] until the semi-finals, [1] is the 113th running of the Federation Cup, the main soccer knockout cup competition in South Australia. The competition also functions as part of the 2026 Australia Cup preliminary rounds, with the two finalists qualifying for the main competition.
North Eastern MetroStars are the defending champions.
| Round | Draw date | Match dates | No. of fixtures | Teams | New entries this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round | 2 February | 20–28 February | 26 | 58 → 32 | 52 |
| Second round | 3–5 April | 16 | 32 → 16 | 6 | |
| Third round | 24–26 April | 8 | 16 → 8 | None | |
| Quarter-finals | 12–20 May | 4 | 8 → 4 | None | |
| Semi-finals | 10–17 June | 2 | 4 → 2 | None | |
| Final | — | 11 July | 1 | 2 → 1 | None |
58 teams are participating in the competition: 49 from the Greater Adelaide area, three from Mount Gambier, two from the Adelaide Hills region, and one from Gawler, Port Pirie, Naracoorte, and Whyalla. National Premier Leagues South Australia, State League One and State League Two represent levels 2–4 on the unofficial Australian league system, and are required to participate in the Federation Cup. The South Australian Regional Leagues represent level 5. The South Australian Amateur Soccer League is not represented in the national league system. Adelaide United Youth are not eligible for the tournament, as the senior team will enter the Australia Cup competition at the round of 32. [3]
Registrations for non-affiliate clubs to participate in the competition opened on 16 January and closed on 27 January. Regional affiliate clubs will host if they are drawn against a Football South Australia affiliate club or amateur league club. [1]
The first round of the Federation Cup is also the third round of the 2026 Australia Cup preliminary rounds. National Premier League teams Adelaide City, Adelaide Comets, Croydon FC, FK Beograd, and Playford City were drawn into this round, with all other NPL teams given a bye.
All times are in ACDT.
| 20 February | BOSA FC (-) | 0–6 | Adelaide Atletico (3) | Oakden |
| 18:15 | Report |
| Stadium: Adelaide City Park Referee: Garry Powers |
| 20 February | Cumberland United (3) | 4–2 | Northern Demons (4) | Clarence Gardens |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Ramos | Stadium: Lady Burra Stadium Referee: Curtis Wordsworth |
| 20 February | Elizabeth Grove (4) | 2–6 | Modbury Jets (3) | Elizabeth |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Stadium: Dauntsey Reserve Referee: Marc Padros |
| 20 February | Port Adelaide (4) | 3–1 | Sturt Marion Thunder (-) | Taperoo |
| 19:30 |
| Report | Kurban | Stadium: Ngarrpadla Josie Agius Reserve Referee: Alexander Diamond |
| 20 February | Croydon FC (2) | 10–2 | Plympton Bulldogs (4) | Regency Park |
| 19:30 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Regency Park Referee: Andrew Kite |
| 20 February | Messinian Association Hawks (-) | 1–11 | Eastern United (3) | Athelstone |
| 19:30 | Bouzalas | Report |
| Stadium: Athelstone Recreation Reserve Referee: Mark Michael |
| 20 February | Vipers FC (4) | 1–2 | Salisbury Inter (4) | St Clair |
| 19:30 | Velinov | Report |
| Stadium: Evian Football Park Referee: David Alberton |
| 20 February | Elizabeth Downs (4) | 0–4 | Playford City (2) | Elizabeth Downs |
| 19:30 | Report |
| Stadium: Argana Park Referee: Tom Brinkworth |
| 20 February | Adelaide Omonia Cobras (3) | 3–0 | Ingle Farm (-) | Plympton |
| 20:00 |
| Report | Stadium: Pro Paint and Panel Oval Referee: Gary Mooney |
| 20 February | Adelaide City (2) | 3–0 | Seaford Rangers (4) | Oakden |
| 20:15 |
| Report | Stadium: Adelaide City Park Referee: Dion Turner |
| 21 February | Old Ignatians (-) | 0–3 | Salisbury United (3) | Athelstone |
| 9:00 | Report |
| Stadium: Saint Ignatius' College Referee: Jacky Chang |
| 21 February | Blue Lake (5) | 0–2 | Gawler Eagles (4) | Mount Gambier |
| 16:30 | Report |
| Stadium: Malseed Park Referee: Cameron Joy |
| 21 February | Whyalla Lions (5) | 3–1 | Naracoorte United (5) | Whyalla |
| 18:00 |
| Report | Halumwane | Stadium: Worsnop Park Referee: Zakir Hussaini |
| 21 February | Gambier Centrals (5) | 0–8 | Adelaide Olympic (3) | Mount Gambier |
| 18:30 | Report | Stadium: MGA Park Referee: Denis Palushaj |
| 21 February | Mount Barker United (4) | 4–2 (a.e.t.) | Angle Vale (4) | Mount Barker |
| 19:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Summit Sport and Recreation Park Referee: Thomas Gilchrist |
| 21 February | The Cove (3) | 1–4 | Fulham United (3) | Trott Park |
| 19:00 | Rideout | Report |
| Stadium: Southern Soccer Facility Referee: Judah Tan |
| 21 February | Pontian Eagles (4) | 2–1 | West Adelaide Raptors (-) | Paralowie |
| 19:00 | Katsigiannis | Report | Udycz | Stadium: Yalumba Drive Reserve Referee: Zack Brittan |
| 21 February | Modbury Vista (4) | 2–5 | Adelaide Comets (2) | Wynn Vale |
| 19:00 |
| Report |
| Stadium: Newspot Stadium Referee: Mon Bahadur Khadka |
| 21 February | Adelaide Titans (4) | 0–1 | FK Beograd (2) | West Beach |
| 19:00 | Report | Orchard | Stadium: West Beach Parks Football Centre Referee: Daniel Faulkner |
| 21 February | International SC (5) | 0–1 | Adelaide Croatia Raiders (3) | Moorak |
| 19:30 | Report | King-Byrne | Stadium: Casadio Park Referee: Jayden Betterman |
| 21 February | Adelaide University (4) | 1–0 | Adelaide Brasfoot (-) | North Adelaide |
| 20:30 | Orphanou | Report | Stadium: University Ovals Referee: Luca Castello |
| 22 February | Para Hills West (-) | v | Adelaide Blue Eagles (3) | Salisbury East |
| 14:45 | Report | Stadium: Manor Farm Oval Referee: Samuel McLeod Banwell |
| 22 February | Para Hills East (-) | v | South Adelaide Panthers (3) | Modbury North |
| 16:00 | Report | Stadium: Ladywood Reserve Referee: Gary Mooney |
| 22 February | Tea Tree Gully (-) | v | Adelaide Hills Hawks (4) | Surrey Downs |
| 16:00 | Report | Stadium: Tilley Reserve Referee: Henry Day |
| 27 February | Noarlunga United (4) | v | Ghan United (4) | Morphett Vale |
| 20:00 | Report | Stadium: Wilfred Taylor Reserve |
| 28 February | Barossa United (4) | v | Western Strikers (4) | Nuriootpa |
| 15:00 | Report | Stadium: Barossa United Stadium |
The second round of the Federation Cup will also the fourth round of the 2026 Australia Cup preliminary rounds, featuring 26 teams from the previous round and the six teams from the National Premier League who were not drawn into the first round.
| NPL SA (2) | State League 1 (3) | State League 2 (4) | Regional (5) | Amateur (-) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 / 11 | 11 / 12 | 11 / 20 | 1 / 5 | 3 / 10 | 37 / 58 |
Qualified teams