Definition
The 2019–20 Belgian Cup (officially the Beker van België in Dutch and Coupe de Belgique in French, and for sponsorship purposes the Croky Cup) was the 65th edition of Belgium’s primary knockout football competition, organised by the Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB/URBV). The tournament was intended to determine the national cup champion for the 2019–2020 season but was ultimately abandoned without a winner due to the COVID‑19 pandemic.
Overview
The competition commenced on 26 July 2019 with preliminary rounds involving amateur and lower‑division clubs. A total of 332 teams entered the tournament, spanning the Belgian football pyramid from the fifth tier up to the professional First Division A clubs, which entered at the round of 32. Matches were played as single‑leg ties, with extra time and penalty shoot‑outs used to decide draws. The defending champion was KAA Gent, the winner of the 2018–19 edition.
The progress of the cup was halted in March 2020 as the COVID‑19 pandemic forced the suspension of all Belgian football activities. By that point, the competition had reached the quarter‑final stage. In May 2020, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced the cancellation of the remainder of the cup, and consequently no champion was crowned for the 2019–20 season.
Etymology/Origin
The term “Belgian Cup” derives from the competition’s nature as a national cup tournament in Belgium, mirroring similar knockout formats such as England’s FA Cup. The French and Dutch equivalents (Coupe de Belgique and Beker van België) reflect Belgium’s bilingual official language policy. The commercial name “Croky Cup” originated from a sponsorship agreement with the snack‑food brand Croky, which has been used for the competition since the 2015–16 season.
Characteristics
| Attribute | Description |
|---|---|
| Organizer | Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB/URBV) |
| Format | Single‑elimination knockout; all ties decided on the day (extra time, then penalties if necessary) |
| Entry | Open to clubs from the Belgian football league system (approximately 332 teams) |
| Seeding | Professional First Division A clubs join at the round of 32; lower‑division clubs compete from the first round |
| Schedule | Preliminary rounds (July–August 2019), main rounds (September 2019–January 2020), quarter‑finals (February–March 2020) |
| Venue for Final | Planned for King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels |
| Outcome | Competition cancelled after quarter‑finals; no champion declared |
| European Qualification | The cup winner ordinarily qualifies for the UEFA Europa League; the cancellation left the allocation to be determined by domestic league standings |
Related Topics
- Belgian First Division A – the top tier of Belgian league football, whose clubs also participate in the cup.
- Croky Cup (sponsorship) – naming rights holder for the Belgian Cup since 2015.
- COVID‑19 pandemic impact on sports – the broader context leading to the suspension and cancellation of the 2019–20 season across multiple competitions.
- UEFA Europa League qualification – the European competition for which the Belgian Cup winner normally secures a berth.
- 2018–19 Belgian Cup – the previous edition, won by KAA Gent.
- Royal Belgian Football Association (KBVB/URBV) – governing body responsible for organising the tournament.