Football Federation Australia (FFA) has today confirmed the format of the inaugural FFA Cup in 2014, with draw principles that give grassroots clubs every chance to be giant-killers against the elite of the Hyundai A-League.

Preliminary matches involving over 600 clubs across Australia have commenced this month ahead of the national knock-out FFA Cup Round of 32 kicking off in late July.

That is the stage when the 10 Hyundai A-League clubs will join the 22 clubs who will have qualified from feeder cup competitions in eight states and territories – Queensland, NSW, Northern NSW, Victoria, ACT, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia.

A live Round of 32 draw will occur in late June this year and will see four Round of 32 matches in which Hyundai A-League clubs will be the away team against semi-professional or amateur clubs at suburban or regional venues.

The draw principles will ensure the “giant-killer” interest will run throughout the competition, with a minimum of one non Hyundai A-League club reaching the Semi-Finals stage, a minimum of three in the Quarter-Finals and a minimum of nine in the Round of 16.