Belgian Cup

The Belgian national cup that brings out the triumph to compete with other outstanding winners’ cups is around the corner. The final is only a week away from us, so let’s keep yourself updated with the latest information and basic understanding of the competition.

What is the Belgian Cup?

The Belgian Cup is an annual knockout football tournament that was founded in 1911 in Belgium. It is also known as the Coupe de Belgique in French and Belgischer Fußballpokal in German. The cup has been called the Croky Cup since the 2015-2016 season due to the sponsorship from the chips and snacks company called Croky. The Belgian Cup is typically held from August to April of the following year. 

Belgian Cup logo

The origin of the Belgian Cup

The Belgian Cup has a rich history with numerous times being suspended and folded. The competition officially ran in the 1911-1912 season, however, it actually existed prior. In 1907-08, the game occurred with the participation of provincial selections, which were actually not teams. The game was then held off until the official introduction in 1911.

However, World War I interrupted the Belgian Cup for more than a decade, until the 1926-27 season. Soon after that, the cup didn’t receive respect from the leading clubs at that time, making it again fall into suspension. The competition was brought back in 1953 but three years later, the cup was once again stopped. 

In 1964, when the European Cup Winners’ Cup was established, the Belgian Cup was opened to send Belgian representatives into this continental cup division.  

How does the Belgian Cup work?

As already mentioned, the Belgian Cup is a knockout football competition that comprises hundreds of participants. To reduce the number of teams taking part in the tournament, there will be eight rounds before the semifinals and final match. 

Typically, all teams from the national level are eligible for the Belgian Cup, however, teams can receive byes for later rounds if they are from a higher level. If the amateur club is paired with a professional counterpart, they will always receive a home advantage in case their venues qualify for the regulation specifications.

All the matches are played over one-legged ties, except for the semifinals, which are played over two legs. If one match from the first three rounds ends up level, penalty shots will take control to determine the winner. From round four to the end, extra time will be played in case there is a tie. If the tie still isn’t broken, penalty kicks will decide the result. The eventual winner to qualify for the UEFA Europa League Group Stage of the next season. 

When is the 2021 Belgian Cup final held?

The 2021 season is the 66th edition of the Belgian Cup with the final round scheduled to be held on 25 April. This very last is usually played at the King Baudouin Stadium, which is located in North-West Brussels, Belgium. The final will feature the match between Standard Liege and Genk, who have defeated plenty of teams to have tickets to the last round.  

Who is the most successful team in the Belgian Cup history?

Club Brugge is considered the most successful club in the Belgian Cup so far, with 11 times lifting the trophy. They lost Antwerp for the 2020 edition and became the runner-up in the previous season. This year, Club Brugge was eliminated in the quarter-final match due to the loss (0-1) by Standard Liege. 

Antwerp surpasses Club Brugge

The team which is ranked second is Anderlecht with nine times having their hands on the Belgian Cup’s trophy. The two faces in this season's final are the third and fourth-placed most winning titles teams. Standard Liege has won the Belgian Cup title eight seasons, and Genk has four times became the triumph.

References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgian_Cup

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E2%80%9321_Belgian_Cup