A-League clubs to return to Darwin in Australia Cup blockbusters

The do-or-die qualifying matches on July 17 and 18 to enter the final rounds of the Australia Cup will see A-League teams that finished 9th to 12th last season take centre stage at Marrara.

The first of the two exciting encounters will have Newcastle Jets FC (10th) facing Melbourne Victory FC (11th) on Monday July 17 and the following day will feature Perth Glory FC (9th) and defending Australia Cup winners Macarthur FC (12th).

It will be an event watched Australia-wide with 22 member federation clubs from a variety of levels and locations from right across the country still left in the competition alongside the top eight A-League teams and two teams who progress from the Darwin encounters.

The last time Darwin witnessed a match featuring two A-League sides was in 2015 when the Territory hosted a pre-season clash between Adelaide United and Melbourne City.

Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said the sport’s governing body is delighted to be taking elite football to a new region as part of its “strategy of taking elite football to as many cities as possible” to showcase talent.

“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,” Johnson said.

“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.”

Northern Territory major events minister Paul Kirby said hosting the Australia Cup 2023 Playoffs was “a fantastic opportunity to give football fans the opportunity to see high-level sport here in the Territory, as well as inspire the next generation of soccer stars.”

“We might even have a future Mat Ryan or Sam Kerr sitting in the crowd, inspired by the Australia Cup to take up the sport and give it a go,” Kirby said.

“Football, or soccer, is one of the most popular sports for Territorians to play, with thousands of children of all ages, boys and girls, making up the numbers at games played throughout our suburbs every weekend.”

It is believed football remains the number one club participation sport in the Northern Territory.

Football Northern Territory chief executive Bruce Stalder thanked Football Australia and the NT government and was optimistic about the Top End hosting more elite teams in future.

“I know the city will get right behind these two exciting encounters and demonstrate that the Northern Territory should host more national and international football events,” Stalder said.

Tickets for the event will go on sale on Thursday 8 June via australiacup.com.au/tickets

Originally published as A-League clubs set for Darwin return: Newcastle Jets, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory, Macarthur to face off in huge Australia Cup qualifiers