Russian Cup

Russian Cup. The Russian Cup is the primary national football knockout cup competition in Russia, organized by the Russian Football Union (RFU). First held in the 1992 season following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it succeeded the Soviet Cup and has been contested annually by professional clubs from the Russian Premier League, Russian First League, and lower divisions. The competition's winner earns a place in the UEFA Europa League group stage, providing a significant European qualification route.

History

The tournament was established in 1992 as the successor to the Soviet Cup, marking a new era for Russian football after the collapse of the USSR. The inaugural final was held at Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, where FC Torpedo Moscow defeated PFC CSKA Moscow. Throughout the 1990s, the cup was dominated by clubs from the capital, including FC Spartak Moscow and PFC CSKA Moscow. The competition's format and prestige evolved alongside the Russian Premier League, with notable periods of dominance by FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and FC Lokomotiv Moscow in the 21st century. Key historical moments include the 1999–2000 final where FC Zenit Saint Petersburg won their first major trophy and the 2007–08 victory by FC Rubin Kazan.

Format

The competition typically begins in July and concludes in May of the following year, spanning the entire football season. It employs a straight knockout format, with all ties decided by a single match, including the final held at a neutral venue. Clubs from the Russian Premier League enter in the later rounds, while teams from the Russian First League, Russian Second League, and amateur levels start in the early stages. The draw is regionalized in the initial phases to reduce travel. Since the 2013–14 season, the final has been held at various stadiums, including the Cosmos Arena in Samara and the VTB Arena in Moscow. The winner qualifies directly for the UEFA Europa League.

Winners and finals

FC Lokomotiv Moscow holds the record for the most titles, with nine victories, including a notable three-peat between 2015 and 2017. Other multiple winners include PFC CSKA Moscow with eight and FC Spartak Moscow with four. The most successful non-Moscow club is FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, with five titles as of 2024. Memorable finals include the 2004–05 final where PFC CSKA Moscow defeated FC Krylia Sovetov Samara and the 2022–23 final where FC Zenit Saint Petersburg beat PFC CSKA Moscow. The competition has also seen winners from outside the top flight, such as FC Tosno in 2018 and FC Ural Yekaterinburg in 2023.

Records and statistics

Dmitri Loskov holds the record for most appearances in finals, having played in eight with FC Lokomotiv Moscow. The top goalscorer in the competition's history is Oleg Veretennikov, who scored extensively for FC Rotor Volgograd. FC Lokomotiv Moscow also holds the record for consecutive final appearances, reaching four finals from 2015 to 2018. The largest victory in a final was FC Lokomotiv Moscow's 4–0 win over FC Ural Yekaterinburg in 2017. Several players, including Igor Akinfeev of PFC CSKA Moscow and Artem Dzyuba of FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, have won the cup with multiple clubs.

Trophy and branding

The current trophy, introduced in the 1995–96 season, is a silver cup crafted by renowned jewellers from Moscow. The design features a football atop a columned base, with the names of all winners engraved on its plates. The competition's logo and branding are managed by the Russian Football Union, with sponsorship rights having been held by various companies, including Baltika Brewery and Russian Railways. The cup is traditionally presented by the President of the Russian Football Union or other dignitaries at the final, held at venues like the Luzhniki Stadium.

Related competitions

The winner of the competition qualifies for the UEFA Europa League, linking it directly to European football. Domestically, it is part of the double alongside the Russian Premier League championship. The Russian Super Cup is an annual match between the cup winner and the league champion. For lower-tier clubs, the Russian Football National League Cup served as a secondary competition until its discontinuation. The tournament also has a youth equivalent, the Russian Youth Football League, and a futsal counterpart, the Russian Futsal Cup. Historically, it succeeded the Soviet Cup and exists alongside other national cups in post-Soviet states like the Ukrainian Cup and Belarusian Cup. Category:Football competitions in Russia Category:National association football cups Category:Russian Football Union