Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed that the clubs that finish 10th and 11th in the Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Regular Season will compete in a play-off to reach the FFA Cup 2020 Round of 32.
The play-off will be held in the days prior to commencement of the first matchday of the FFA Cup 2020 Final Rounds, and will add an intriguing element to the competition next year with one Hyundai A-League side missing out on participating in the competition proper for the first time.
Additionally, with the Hyundai A-League expanding to 12 clubs in 2020/21 with the introduction of Macarthur FC, the FFA Cup play-off format will be expanded in 2021 to include two play-off fixtures involving four Hyundai A-League clubs (9th v 12th, 10th v 11th).
This process will ensure that the Hyundai A-League continues to receive 10 entrants in the FFA Cup Round of 32, with 22 clubs representing Australia’s nine Member Federations.
Like in previous seasons of the FFA Cup, all Hyundai A-League clubs will play their Round of 32 matches on matchdays two or three, which will avoid a rapid turnaround between the play-off fixtures and the Round of 32.
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Moreover, FFA has confirmed the slot allocations for Member Federations for next year’s competition.
Football South Australia (FSA) has received an additional entrant into the Round of 32.
FFA Chief Operating Officer Mark Falvo said: “Football South Australia has witnessed strong growth in the number of its clubs registering to participate in this truly national competition which unites the grassroots and professional levels of the game. As such, an additional team from South Australia will compete in the FFA Cup Round of 32 in 2020.”
“This year saw a record 726 clubs from around the country competing in the Preliminary Rounds. Our aim is to grow that number in 2020 as players, clubs, officials, volunteers, and supporters around Australia dream of their team going on a magic FFA Cup run.”
