South Melbourne FC’s first Australia Cup Final locked in at AAMI Park

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AAMI Park will host the 2026 Hahn Australia Cup Final on Saturday, 10 October, when South Melbourne FC faces Melbourne Victory in the first all-Victorian decider of the modern era.

The showpiece match will pit one of Australian football’s most historic clubs against one of the competition’s most successful sides.

How they got there

South Melbourne booked its maiden final with a 3–1 comeback win over Lions FC at Lakeside Stadium. Substitute Bul Juach scored a second-half hat-trick after the visitors had taken the lead.

The result sends South Melbourne into the final after previous semi-final appearances in 2017 and 2024. The club will become only the third non-A-League side to contest the Australia Cup decider.

Melbourne Victory reached the final with a 2–0 win over Sydney FC at Jubilee Stadium on Wednesday, 9 September. Keegan Jelacic scored inside two minutes, with a second-half own goal sealing the result.

Victory will appear in its fourth Australia Cup Final. The club won the trophy at AAMI Park in 2015 and 2021 and finished runner-up to Macarthur FC at the same venue in 2024.

“A watershed moment”

Football Australia CEO Martin Kugeler said an all-Victorian final was a fitting end to this year’s competition.

“An all-Victorian Final between South Melbourne FC and Melbourne Victory FC is an exciting way to conclude the Hahn Australia Cup 2026,” he said. “Both clubs have proud histories and passionate supporter bases, and AAMI Park provides a fantastic stage for the occasion.”

Football Australia Executive Director of Football Heather Garriock called the derby a landmark for the cup.

“To have such a historic club taking on one of the A-League’s most successful clubs in the final, especially in a local derby, is a watershed moment for the Australia Cup,” she said.

Tickets and broadcast

Tickets go on sale on Monday, 21 September. FA+, South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory members get presale access from 10 a.m., followed by Football Account holders at 1 p.m. and the general public at 4 p.m.

Kick-off is 7.35 p.m. AEDT. The match will be shown on Network 10 and Paramount+.

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