8 June 2023
The Top End will welcome some of Australia's best soccer players when Darwin hosts the Australia Cup 2023 Playoffs next month, adding to the Territory's sporting lifestyle with another elite event in our own back yard.
The two games will see Newcastle Jets FC take on Melbourne Victory FC on Monday, 17 July at 7pm, with Perth Glory FC to tackle defending Australia Cup winners Macarthur FC on Tuesday, 18 July at 7pm.
The matches, which are supported by Territory Labor Government through Northern Territory Major Events Company, will take place at Larrakia Park - Darwin Football Stadium, at the Marrara Sporting Complex.
The games come as football fever is set to sweep the nation with the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 to take place in July and August. NTMEC worked with Football Australia and Football Northern Territory to bring the Australia Cup to the Territory, so Territorians did not miss out on the football fun.
The Australia Cup is the nation's largest knockout competition of any sport, with more than 770 clubs taking part this year. The winners of each match will go on to compete against the top eight teams from the A-League Men's 2022/23 regular season, as well as 22 Member Federation clubs.
The last time Darwin witnessed a match featuring two A-League sides was in 2015, when the city hosted a pre-season clash between Adelaide United FC and Melbourne City FC.
Tickets will go on sale at 3.30pm online at [http://www.australiacup.com.au/tickets]. Tickets are $15 adults and $10 for students, concession card holders and senior card holders.
Quotes from Minister for Major Events, Paul Kirby:
"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.
"Hosting the Australia Cup 2023 Playoffs is 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."
Quotes from Minister for Sport, Kate Worden
"Football has a high participation rate at a grass roots level from juniors to seniors across the NT.
"Having these two competitive matches in Darwin will give our junior players the chance to watch some potential future Socceroos take the field."
Quotes from Football Australia CEO James Johnson:
"Whether it's our senior and youth national teams or Football Australia competitions like the Australia Cup, we are strategically committed to taking elite football to as many cities as possible to showcase our leading established or emerging talent to different audiences and support the growth of football across Australia.
"Over the past 12 months, Football Australia has deliberately taken matches and tournaments 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."
Northern Territory Government
