Who will face Melbourne Victory in the 2026 Australia Cup final? It comes down to South Melbourne and Lions FC.
NPL VIC giants South Melbourne and NPL QLD champions Lions FC will go head-to-head at Lakeside Stadium on Tuesday night.
The winner of the all-NPL showdown will advance to meet two-time champions and A-League giants Victory in the decider after they conquered Sydney FC last week.
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South Melbourne v Lions FC
South Melbourne and fellow NPL outfit Lions FC will do battle for the right to play Melbourne Victory in the Australia Cup final.
Through to the semi-finals for the third time in their proud history, South Melbourne are coming off a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to premiers Oakleigh Cannons in the NPL VIC semi-finals.
Their Australia Cup semi-final run has seen South take down three-time champions Adelaide United and Fremantle City, as well as Preston Lions.
Lions FC, meanwhile, are in the midst of a headline-grabbing campaign, both domestically and nationally.
Lions, who conquered A-League duo Perth Glory, Melbourne City and North Sunshine Eagles en route to the semis, have claimed the state quadruple with Kappa Pro Series, NPL QLD premiership, Kappa Queensland Cup and NPL QLD championship glory under the guidance of Dan Barber.
This is the first ever meeting between the two sides.
How to watch
The semi-final will be broadcast exclusive on Paramount+.
When is the final?
The date for the 2026 decider is still to be determined.