The Estonian Cup (Estonian: Eesti Karikas) is the premier knockout football (association soccer) competition in Estonia. It is organized annually by the Estonian Football Association (Eesti Jalgpalli Liit) and is open to clubs from all levels of the Estonian football league system.
History
- The competition was first contested in 1938. Subsequent editions were interrupted by World War II and the subsequent Soviet occupation; the tournament was re‑established after Estonia regained independence in 1991.
- Since the 1992–93 season, the cup has been held continuously as an annual event.
Format
- The cup follows a single‑elimination format. Teams are drawn at random, with no seeding, and matches are decided over a single leg. If a match is tied after regular time, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shoot‑out determine the winner.
- Early rounds typically involve lower‑division clubs, while clubs from the Meistriliiga (the top tier) enter in later rounds.
- The winner of the Estonian Cup qualifies for the UEFA Europa Conference League (previously the UEFA Europa League) and thus gains access to European competition.
Significant Records
- Most Titles: FC Levadia Tallinn and FC Flora Tallinn have each won the competition multiple times, holding the joint record for the most titles (as of the most recent completed season).
- Current Champion: The most recent champion is [insert latest winner, e.g., "FC Levadia Tallinn (2023)"], who secured the trophy by defeating [runner‑up] in the final.
- Final Venue: The cup final is traditionally staged at the A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, Estonia’s national stadium, although other venues have been used in earlier years.
Women's Competition
- A separate women's Estonian Cup (Naiste Karikavõistlused) exists, following a similar knockout format and organized by the Estonian Football Association.
Related Competitions
- Estonian Supercup: A one‑off match contested between the Meistriliiga champion and the Estonian Cup winner.
- Estonian League (Meistriliiga): The national league competition that runs concurrently with the cup.
References
- Estonian Football Association official website.
- UEFA competition regulations.
- Historical archives of Estonian sport.