[3] This edition also marked the first season that the winner would qualify for the AFC Champions League in the following year.
[7][8] A total of 32 teams are scheduled to participate in the 2021 FFA Cup competition proper, ten of which are from the A-League Men, one the 2019 National Premier Leagues champions (Wollongong Wolves), and the remaining 21 teams from member federations, as determined by the qualifying rounds.
After Devonport City withdrew from the competition, Avondale FC were awarded a bye to the round of 16.
The first draw took place on 30 September where the winners from the North & West zones were combined into one pool to determine the three fixtures.
[18] The lowest ranked sides that qualified for this round were Adelaide Olympic, APIA Leichhardt Tigers, Avondale FC, Gold Coast Knights, Hume City, Lions FC and Wollongong Wolves.
All times listed below are at AEDT The recipient of the Michael Cockerill Medal to recognise the tournament's standout National Premier Leagues performer was Finn Beakhurst from Lions FC.
[21] Jake Brimmer from Melbourne Victory and Kye Rowles from Central Coast Mariners won the Mark Viduka Medal for the players of the match in the final, the first time in the competition's history that there's been dual recipients.