Football SA is pleased to confirm a record number of entrants into the 2026 Hahn Australia Cup Preliminary Rounds in South Australia. The confirmed 58 participating teams for the competition are below:
The Hahn Australia Cup competition is structured in a way so that each member federation has its qualified teams for the final round of 32 at the end of Round 7. As such, teams in South Australia will enter from Round 3.
In total, 52 teams will play in Round 3:
- Five (5) RAA National Premier League (NPL) Teams
- All HPG Homes State League 1 Teams (12)
- All HPG Homes State League 2 Teams (20)
- All nominated Affiliated Association teams (15)
Six (6) teams from the RAA NPL will receive a bye and will be drawn randomly. Please note that Adelaide United is not eligible to participate in the Australia Cup SA Preliminary Rounds.
The draw for Round 3 will take place on the afternoon of Monday 2 February 2026 at ServiceFM Stadium. This will be published live on Football South Australia’s Facebook page.
Following the draw, the fixtures will be emailed to clubs. The home team of each fixture will be required to provide the date and time of when the game is to be played on the weekend of the 20 – 22 February 2026. This information is to be provided to Football SA no later than 9.00am Friday 6 February 2026.
At the completion of Round 3, the winners of these games (26 teams), plus the six (6) RAA NPL teams (being 32 teams) will go into Round 4 to be played on the weekend of 3 – 5 April 2026.
Regional Team Hosting Rights:
For Round 3 of Hahn Australia Cup South Australia Preliminary Rounds, In the event that a team from a regional affiliated association is drawn against a non-regional team, the regional team will automatically host the match, regardless of the draw order.
Cup Draw Format
- Round 1 – All teams to have a bye;
- Round 2 – All teams to have a bye;
- Round 3 – 52 Teams to play; 6 NPL Teams to have a bye;
- Round 4 – 26 winning Teams from Round 3 plus 6 NPL Teams – Round of 32;
- Round 5 – 16 winning Teams from Round 4 – Round of 16;
- Quarter Finals – Eight (8) winning Teams from Round 5;
- Australia Cup Qualifying Final (Semi-Final) – Four (4) winning teams from the Quarter Finals – the two (2) winners will progress to the Australia Cup Final Round of 32;
- Federation Cup Final –Two (2) winning teams from the Semi-Finals – Competition reverts name to Federation Cup.
Federation Cup (Under 18s and Reserves)
Forty Four (44) Teams will contest the Under 18s and Reserves Federation Cup. Round 1 will involve all Twenty (20) HPG Homes State League 2 teams & Four (4) HPG Homes State League 1 teams. The remaining Eight (8) HPG Homes State League 1 teams, and All RAA NPL Teams will have a bye.
A draw will occur to deem the Four (4) HPG Homes State League 1 teams that will participate, and the Eight (8) teams that will have a bye.
The winning Twelve (12) teams from Round 1 will join the remaining Twenty (20) teams in Round 2 (Round of 32). The draw for Round 1 of the Reserves and Under 18 Federation Cup will take place following the draw
of the Australia Cup.