Belarusian Cup

The Belarusian Cup (Belarusian: Кубак Беларусі, romanized: Kubak Belarusi) is the main domestic knockout football cup competition in Belarus. Organized annually by the [[Football Federation of Belarus]] (ABFF), it is open to professional and amateur football clubs throughout the country. The competition runs concurrently with the [[Belarusian Premier League]] (Vysheyshaya Liga) season, with the winner earning a spot in the qualification rounds of the [[UEFA Europa Conference League]].

History

The Belarusian Cup was established in 1992 following the dissolution of the [[Soviet Union]] and the establishment of an independent [[Belarus]]. Prior to this, clubs in the [[Byelorussian SSR]] competed in the Belarusian SSR Cup, a regional competition within the Soviet football system. The inaugural independent Belarusian Cup final was held in 1992. Over its history, the competition has become a prestigious trophy, offering clubs outside the top league an opportunity to compete against the country's elite and potentially qualify for European competition.

Format

The Belarusian Cup is a traditional knockout tournament. Teams are drawn against each other in single-leg matches, with extra time and penalty shootouts used to decide a winner if the score is level after regular time. The competition typically begins in the early spring, involving lower-division and amateur clubs, and progresses through several rounds before the entry of clubs from the [[Belarusian Premier League]] in later stages (often the Round of 32 or Round of 16). The tournament culminates in a final match, usually held in May or June, at a neutral stadium, often in the capital [[Minsk]] or a major regional city.

Qualification for European Competition

The winner of the Belarusian Cup traditionally qualifies for the first or second qualifying round of the [[UEFA Europa Conference League]]. If the cup winner has already qualified for a UEFA club competition through their league position (e.g., by winning the Belarusian Premier League or finishing in a high enough spot for [[UEFA Champions League]] or Europa Conference League), the European spot is then reallocated, usually to the next highest-placed team in the Belarusian Premier League that has not already qualified.

Winners and Records

[[FC BATE Borisov]] is historically the most successful club in the Belarusian Cup, holding the record for the most titles won. Several other clubs, including [[FC Dinamo Minsk]], [[FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk]], and [[FC Dinamo Brest]], have also lifted the trophy multiple times, showcasing the competitive nature of the tournament.