2018 FFA Cup preliminary rounds
The 2018 FFA Cup preliminary rounds was the qualifying competition to decide 21 of the 32 teams which took part in the 2018 FFA Cup Round of 32, along with the 10 A-League clubs and reigning National Premier Leagues champion, Heidelberg United. The preliminary rounds operated within a consistent national structure whereby club entry into the competition was staggered in each federation, with the winning clubs from Round 7 of the preliminary rounds in each member federation gaining 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 is permitted entry in the competition.
Schedule
The number of fixtures for each round, and the match dates for each Federation, were as follows.| Round | Number of fixtures | Clubs | ACT | NSW | NNSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA |
| 32 + 11 byes | 781 → 749 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 10–17 Feb | – | |
| First Round | 57 + 16 byes | 749 → 692 | – | – | 24 Feb–14 Mar | – | 28 Feb–24 Mar | – | – | 23–25 Feb | – |
| Second Round | 171 + 80 byes | 692 → 521 | – | 9–13 Mar | 23 Feb–15 Apr | – | 15 Feb–11 Apr | 22–28 Mar | – | 2–6 Mar | 11–18 Mar |
| Third Round | 189 + 4 byes | 521 → 332 | 18 Mar–3 Apr | 14–28 Mar | 24 Mar–21 Apr | 27 Mar–17 Apr | 10 Mar–22 Apr | 9–14 Apr | 3 Mar | 8–11 Mar | 23–29 Mar |
| Fourth Round | 154 + 2 byes | 332 → 178 | 18 Apr–1 May | 3–11 Apr | 1–12 May | 1–8 May | 17 Mar–25 Apr | 25 Apr | 2 Apr | 17 Mar–2 Apr | 2 Apr |
| Fifth Round | 83 + 1 bye | 178 → 95 | 15–31 May | 2–9 May | 13–16 May | 9–22 May | 24 Mar–22 May | 5 May | 28–29 Apr | 11–24 Apr | 25 Apr |
| Sixth Round | 42 | 95 → 53 | 5–7 Jun | 15–23 May | 9 Jun | 5 Jun | 5 May–5 Jun | 22–23 May | 19 May | 1–9 May | 19–20 May |
| Seventh Round | 21 | 53 → 32 | 16 Jun | 30 May | 13 Jun | 23 Jun | 9–10 Jun | 11 Jun | 11 Jun | 23–30 May | 4 Jun |
- Some round dates in respective Federations overlap due to separate scheduling of Zones/Sub-Zones.
Format
- Qualifying round:
- First round:
- Second round:
- Third round:
- Fourth round:
- Fifth round:
- Sixth round:
- Seventh round:
Note: A-League Youth teams playing in their respective federation leagues are specifically excluded from the preliminary rounds as their respective Senior A-League clubs are already part of the competition.
Key to Abbreviations
Qualifying Round
| Fed | Zone | Sub Zone | Tie no | Home Team | Score | Away Team |
| VIC | – | – | 17 | Reservoir Yeti | 3–2† | Alphington SC |
| VIC | – | – | 18 | Bunyip District | 4–3† | East Bentleigh |
| VIC | – | – | 19 | Keon Park | 1–7 | Gisborne SC |
| VIC | – | – | 20 | Myrtleford Savoy | w/o | Westside Strikers |
| VIC | – | – | 21 | Melbourne Lions | w/o | Monash SC |
| VIC | – | – | 22 | Old Mentonians | 2–3 | Somerville Eagles |
| VIC | – | – | 23 | Wangaratta City | 17–0 | Swinburne FC |
| VIC | – | – | 24 | Falcons 2000 | 2–3 | Mount Waverley City |
| VIC | – | – | 25 | Maribyrnong Greens | 1–0 | Forest Rangers |
| VIC | – | – | 26 | Brunswick Zebras | w/o | Fortuna 60 |
| VIC | – | – | 27 | Twin City Wanderers | 8–2 | Old Ivanhoe Grammarians |
| VIC | – | – | 28 | Aspendale SC | 4–0 | Warrnambool Wolves |
| VIC | – | – | 29 | Glen Eira FC | 1–7 | Melton Phoenix |
| VIC | – | – | 30 | Waverley Wanderers | w/o | Campbellfield Lions |
| VIC | – | – | 31 | Glen Waverley | 2–0 | Monash City |
| VIC | – | – | 32 | Lara United | 8–3 | Kensington City |
;Notes:
- w/o = Walkover
- † = After Extra Time
- QLD Byes – Bribie Island Tigers, Gympie United, Kawana Force, Maroochydore Swans and Woombye Snakes.
- VIC Byes – Albert Park, Ballarat North United, Lyndale United, Moonee Valley Knights, Mt Lilydale Old Collegians and Uni Hill Eagles.
First Round
- w/o = Walkover
- † = After Extra Time
- NNSW Byes – Boambee Bombers, Coffs City United, Kempsey Saints, Macleay Valley Rangers, Orara Valley, Port Saints, Port United, Sawtell Scorpions, Taree Wildcats, Urunga FC, Wallamba FC, Wauchope Axemen and Westlawn Tigers.
- QLD Byes – Buderim Wanderers and Stratford Dolphins.
- VIC Bye – Mount Waverley City.
Second Round
- w/o = Walkover
- † = After Extra Time
- NSW Byes – Albion Park White Eagles, Banksia Tigers, Bankstown RSL Dragons, Bass Hill, Bega Devils, Belrose-Terrey Hills Raiders, Berkeley Vale, Bomaderry SC, Bringelly FC, Brookvale Football Club, Budgewoi FC, Callala Brumbies, Central Coast United, Coniston FC, Connells Point Rovers FC, Cranebrook United, Dee Why FC, Emu Plains FC, Epping Eastwood, Forest Rangers, Gerringong Breakers, Gladesville Ravens, Glenhaven FC, Granville Kewpie Ariana, Greenacre Eagles, Hazelbrook FC, Helensburgh Thistle Soccer Club, Henwood Park FC, Hills Hawks FC, Holroyd Rangers SC, Kellyville Kolts, Kenthurst and District, Killarney District, Kogarah Waratah FC, Lake Albert, Lane Cove, Leichhardt Saints , Lilli Pilli, Lindfield FC, Lugarno FC, Marayong FC, Maroubra United, Minchinbury Jets, Narellan Rangers SC, Padstow United, Pagewood Botany, Peakhurst United, Pendle Hill, Quakers Hill JSC, Ryde Saints United FC, Sans Souci FC, South Coast Flame FC, Tarrawanna Blueys SC, Terrigal United, Tolland FC, West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook, West Pennant Hills Redbacks and Woy Woy FC.
- NNSW Byes – Mayfield United Junior and Oxley Vale Attunga.
- QLD Byes – Albany Creek, Bayside United, Broadbeach United, Brothers Aston Villa, Burdekin FC, Centenary Stormers, Doon Villa, Gold Coast Knights, Grange Thistle, Mackay Magpies, Mackay Wanderers, Mount Gravatt Hawks, Murwillumbah SC, North Pine, Saints Eagles South, Southside Comets, The Gap, Tinana, University of Queensland, Virginia United and West Wanderers.
Third Round
- w/o = Walkover
- † = After Extra Time
- NT Byes – Darwin Olympic, Hellenic AC
- QLD Byes – Capricorn Coast, Mackay Lions, Marlin Coast Rangers and Southside United.
Fourth Round
- † = After Extra Time
- NNSW Bye – Weston Workers Bears.
- NT Bye – University Azzurri.
Fifth Round
- † = After Extra Time
- NT Bye – Palmerston Rovers.
Sixth Round
- w/o = Walkover
- † = After Extra Time
Seventh Round
- † = After Extra Time