AAMI Park to host Australia Cup final on October 10

[p]Perhaps the most highly anticipated match in Australia Cup history, if not club football history in Australia, the Cup final will see an epic clash of the old and the new as the two sides face off in a competitive game for the first time in the Victory's 21-year history. [/p][p]AAMI Park faces a busy week leading up to the epic final, with the Monster Jam World Tour making another visit to the venue seven days prior, which will require a complete relaying of new turf just days before the match.[/p][p]South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory last came together in a pre-season friendly in 2007 in a game marred by crowd violence with a security guard injured in a scuffle and South Melbourne player Andrew Boukaris struck by a flare thrown from the stands. [/p][embed guid="2b879a22-c27b-414e-892d-f721ee26f1ba" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCgYxYRDTp0" social-type="youtube" /][p]Security is expected to be beefed up for a match that could attract more than 20,000 spectators, with South Melbourne getting a crowd of more than 5,000 to their 2-1 semi-final win over Queensland Lions this week.[/p][p]The match comes at a crucial time for the former National Soccer League champions and Oceania Club of the Century, who are [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-a-league-south-melbourne-aggressively-pursuing-western-united-s-cancelled-licence/K6l7p8sg/"]making a significant and compelling bid to replace Western United in the A-League from 2027/28 onwards[/a]. [/p][p]FA Executive Director of Football Heather Garriock hailed the upcoming final as "[b]a watershed moment in the history of the Australia Cup[/b]".[/p][p]“[b]It will be the perfect culmination of another wonderful Australia Cup, where 777 clubs across Australia have competed, and we’ve witnessed some amazing matches to this point,[/b]" Garriock said.[/p][p]"[b]An all-Victorian Final between South Melbourne FC and Melbourne Victory FC is an exciting way to conclude the Hahn Australia Cup 2026,[/b]" added FA CEO Martin Kugeler.[/p][p]“[b]Both clubs have proud histories and passionate supporter bases, and AAMI Park provides a fantastic stage for the occasion.[/b][/p][p]“This year’s competition has again showcased the depth of Australian football, with South Melbourne reaching a maiden Final and Melbourne Victory progressing to a fourth decider.[/p][p]“[b]We look forward to welcoming supporters from both clubs and across the football community to AAMI Park for what will be a memorable Final.[/b]”[/p]