Four NPL teams will be Queensland’s representatives in the 2025 Australia Cup Round of 32, featuring several familiar teams from the state competition.
There is a prospect of a couple of Cupsets, as Gold Coast Knights and Peninsula Power tackle A-League Men’s opposition, while Brisbane City and Olympic FC battle for derby bragging rights.
These teams showcased their quality at both ends of the field in the Preliminary Rounds.
Here is a look at who is competing on the national stage from Queensland in 2025.
Peninsula Power FC
Home Ground: A J Kelley Park
Founded: 2000
Australia Cup Final Rounds appearances (inc. 2025): 5
Best Result: Quarter Finals (2022)
Head Coach: Aaron Philip
Round to the Round of 32:
- Logan Metro 1-4 Peninsula Power
- Brisbane Knights 2-11 Peninsula Power
- Peninsula Power 3-1 Queensland Lions
- Marlin Coast Rangers 2-3 Peninsula Power
The Power produced plenty of scintillating football on their way to the Round of 32, scoring 21 goals across their four games.
They started their campaign with a 3-1 win over Logan Metro and backed that up by putting 11 goals past Brisbane Knights.
A solid victory over current NPL Queensland leaders, Queensland Lions, followed by a 3-2 win over Marlin Coast Rangers that put the side into the Final Rounds.
Peninsula make their return to the national stage against two-time semi-finalists Western Sydney Wanderers, having gone out to fellow A-Leagues opposition Wellington Phoenix in their last Cup appearance (2023).
Match Details
Peninsula Power v Western Sydney Wanderers
Date: 22 July 2025
Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Venue: AJ Kelly Park
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Gold Coast Knights FC
Home Ground: Croatian Sports Centre
Founded: 1978
Australia Cup Final Rounds appearances (inc. 2025): 4
Best Result: Round of 16 (2021)
Head Coach: David Abela
Road to the Round of 32:
- Holland Park Hawks 1-2 Gold Coast Knights
- Gold Coast Knights 5-1 St George Willawong
- WDSC Wolves 1-2 Gold Coast Knights
- Rochedale Rovers 1-4 Gold Coast Knights
The Knights’ qualification for the Final Rounds featured a thrilling set of matches, with a stout defensive record providing a platform for success, as they conceded only once per game.
The side kicked off their campaign by edging past Football Queensland Premier League mid-table battlers Holland Park Hawks.
Wins over St George Willawong and WDSC Wolves before a comfortable victory over Rochedale Rovers earned them a return to the national stage after a one-year hiatus.
The Gold Coast-based team will target a Cupset on their return to the competition, hosting 2024 A-League Men’s premiers Auckland FC.
Match Details
Gold Coast Knights v Auckland FC
Date: 29 July 2025
Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre
Brisbane City FC (Football QLD)
Home Ground: Imperial Corp Stadium
Founded: 1952
Australia Cup Final Rounds appearances (inc. 2025): 3
Best Result: Round of 16 (2022)
Head Coach: Karl Dodd
Road to the Round of 32:
- Ipswich FC 0-2 Brisbane City
- Mt Gravatt 0-6 Brisbane City
- Brisbane City 8-0 Coomera Colts
- Logan Lightning 0-1 Brisbane City
City were unbeatable at the back in their run to the Round of 32, qualifying without conceding a goal.
The side also demonstrated their quality at the other end of the pitch, boasting 6-0 and 8-0 wins over Mt Gravatt and Coomera Colts, respectively.
They earned their place in the Finals Rounds with a dramatic stoppage-time 1-0 win over Football Queensland Premier League outfit Logan Lightning.
There is more than just a place in the next round on the line for City - with bragging rights up for grabs - as they face Olympic FC in a Brisbane derby in the Round of 32.
Match Details
Brisbane City v Olympic FC
Date: 30 July 2025
Time: 7:30pm (AEST)
Venue: Imperial Corp Stadium
Olympic FC (Football QLD)
Home Ground: Goodwin Park
Founded: 1967
Australia Cup Final Rounds appearances (inc. 2025): 5
Best Result: Round of 16 (2014, 2019)
Head Coach: Chris Grossman
Road to the Round of 32:
- Narangba United 0-11 Olympic FC
- Olympic FC 4-0 Logan Roos
- Moreton City Excelsior 1-2 Olympic FC
- Olympic FC 1-0 Taringa Rovers
Olympic embarked on a colourful run to the Final Rounds, featuring a collection of tight battles and comprehensive victories.
Comfortable wins over Narangba and Logan Roos were complemented by the side overcoming 2024 Cup quarter finalists Moreton City Excelsior, who downed A-League Men’s side Perth Glory in last year’s competition.
A narrow victory over Taringa Rovers secured the side their fifth appearance in the Round of 32.
Olympic take on local rivals Brisbane City in the Round of 32, a local derby adding to the stakes as well as a place in the next round.
Match Details
Brisbane City v Olympic FC
Date: 30 July 2025
Time: 7:30 pm (AEST)
Venue: Imperial Corp Stadium
