Coupe de France

The Coupe de France, also known as the French Cup, is France's premier knockout cup competition in men's football. Founded in 1917 by the French Interfederal Committee (CFI), it is currently organized by the French Football Federation (FFF), with the final held at the iconic Stade de France.

This competition is open to all amateur and professional French teams, including clubs based in French overseas territories. The tournament typically begins in May and concludes around the same time the following year. The first two qualifying rounds and any additional preliminary rounds are managed by regional leagues, while the FFF oversees the tournament starting from round three.

The Coupe de France utilizes a single-elimination format, with teams randomly drawn to face each other in a single match. Replays were eliminated in the 1974-75 season, with matches now decided by penalty shootouts in case of a draw. However, the final allows for extra time before penalties if the score is tied after 90 minutes.

The Coupe de France champion qualifies for the Trophée des Champions (French Super Cup) and secures a spot in the UEFA Europa League. If the winner has already qualified for the UEFA Champions League through Ligue 1, the Europa League spot passes to the highest-placed team in Ligue 1 that did not qualify (typically the team in sixth place). Overseas teams are eligible to compete in Europe.

The French Cup has existed for over a century, and as a result, the tournament has evolved significantly. Initially, replays were common, but changes were prompted after Lyon and amateur side Angoulême CFC drew three times, with their tie eventually decided by a coin flip. Extra time was introduced in 1968-69 but was later removed in 2020 for all matches except the final.

PSG, Marseille, and Saint-Etienne are historically the most dominant teams in the competition. Notably, Le Havre (1959) and Guingamp (2009) became the first two non-Ligue 1 clubs to win the Coupe de France. In the first hundred years of the French Cup, only two amateur teams reached the final: Calais RUFC in 2000 and US Quevilly in 2012, with Les Herbiers VF becoming the third in the 2018 competition (the 101st season).