The 2015 FFA Cup preliminary rounds was a qualifying competition to decide 21 of the 32 teams which will take part in the 2015 FFA Cup Round of 32, along with the 10 A-League clubs and reigning National Premier Leagues champion (North Eastern MetroStars SC). The preliminary rounds operated within a consistent national structure whereby club entry into the competition was staggered in each state/territory, with the winning clubs from Round 7 of the preliminary rounds in each member federation gaining direct entry into the Round of 32. All Australian clubs were eligible to enter the qualifying process through their respective FFA member federation, however only one team per club was permitted entry in the competition. Teams from the Northern Territory competed in this competition for the first time.
Schedule
The number of fixtures for each round, and the match dates for each Federation, are as follows.
19 Northern New South Wales clubs level 3 and below (North Zone) entered this stage. For Northern NSW, the preliminary rounds would go straight to a penalty shootout in the event that the game is tied at the conclusion of the regular 90 minutes.[11]
16 Western Australian clubs progressed to this stage.
Byes - 4 NNSW clubs (4 from the South Zone)
Sixth round:
4 Australian Capital Territory clubs progressed to this stage.
20 New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage.
8 Northern New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage.
4 Northern Territory clubs progressed to this stage.
4 South Australian clubs progressed to this stage.
16 Queensland clubs progressed to this stage.
4 Tasmanian clubs progressed to this stage.
16 Victorian clubs progressed to this stage.
8 Western Australian clubs progressed to this stage.
Seventh round:
2 Australian Capital Territory clubs progressed to this stage. This was also the Final of the Federation Cup.
10 New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage. The 5 winners also participated in the Waratah Cup.[1]
4 Northern New South Wales clubs progressed to this stage.
2 Northern Territory clubs progressed to this stage - the winners of the Darwin-based and Alice Springs-based knockout competitions.[12]
8 Queensland clubs progressed to this stage. The 2 Brisbane zone teams (not including the NPL Queensland teams) will also play in the Final of the Canale Cup.[13]
2 South Australian clubs progressed to this stage. This was also the Grand Final of the Federation Cup.
2 Tasmanian clubs progressed to this stage. This was also the Grand Final of the Milan Lakoseljac Cup.[7]
8 Victorian clubs progressed to this stage. The 4 winners also qualified to the semi-finals of the Dockerty Cup.[14]
4 Western Australian clubs progressed to this stage. The 2 winners will also play in the Cool Ridge Cup Final.[15]
VIC Byes - White Star Dandenong (8), Springvale City (8), RMIT FC (8), Reservoir Yeti (8), East Bentleigh Strikers (8), Casey Panthers (8), Spring Hills FC (8), Mill Park SC (8), St Kevins Old Boys SC (8), Melbourne Lions (8), Chelsea FC (8), Swinburne (8), Harrisfield Hurricanes (8), Maidstone United (10), Albert Park SC (8), Yarra Jets SC (8), Brandon Park (8).
164 teams took part in this stage of the competition, including 148 qualifiers from the previous round and 16 entering at this stage (11 from the NPL QLD (2), 4 from the Football in Central Australia League (2) and the 2014 ACT Federation Cup champion (2)). The lowest ranked side that qualified for this round was North Epping Rangers, the only level 7 team left in the competition.
A total of 84 teams competed in this round of the competition. The 42 victorious teams in this round qualified for the Seventh Round. The lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round were Caulfield United Cobras, Kenthurst and District, Wollongong United and Yagoona Lions. They were the only level 6 teams left in the competition.
A total of 42 teams competed in this round of the competition. The 21 victorious teams in this round qualified for the 2015 FFA Cup Round of 32. The lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round were Gwelup Croatia and Prospect United. They were the only level 5 teams left in the competition.