Copa Argentina

Boca Juniors: Four-time Copa Argentina champions.

The Copa Argentina is an official football cup competition organized by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), officially known as the Copa Argentina "AXION energy" due to sponsorship reasons. The tournament has a complex history, with early editions contested only by Primera División teams and regional clubs before being re-launched in 2011 to include all divisions of the Argentine football league system. Boca Juniors stands as the most successful team in this competition's history, having won four titles, with their latest victory secured in the 2019–20 season.

Quick Facts

Organiser: AFA
Founded: 1969; 2011 (relaunch)
Region: Argentina
Qualifier for: Copa Libertadores; Supercopa Argentina
Number of teams: 64 (2025)
Current champions: Independiente Rivadavia (2025)
Most successful club: Boca Juniors (4 titles)

Lore & Background

The roots of Argentine cup football trace back to the "Campeonato de la República" (Copa General Pedro Ramírez), held from 1943 to 1945, which featured 35 teams including regional sides. Inspired by CONMEBOL's "Copa Ganadores de Copa," a new national cup began in 1969. That inaugural edition saw Boca Juniors defeat Atlanta 3–2 on aggregate after two matches. However, because Boca won the 1969 Nacional and qualified for the 1970 Copa Libertadores, the runner-up spot for the international qualifier went to Atlanta instead. The following year, in 1970, Boca reached the final against San Lorenzo, but the tournament never finished. After a 2–2 draw in the first leg played in March 1971, the second leg was cancelled because the Copa Ganadores de Copa had already started and other qualifiers failed to confirm participation.

Reader's Guide

For Boca Juniors fans, navigating the Copa Argentina means understanding its unique structure and historical quirks. The competition allows teams from all divisions to participate, creating a path where the winner qualifies for the Supercopa Argentina against the reigning Primera División champions or the Copa Sudamericana in earlier relaunch years. When supporting Boca in this tournament, note that early editions (1969) excluded top teams already qualified for the Copa Libertadores, such as Vélez Sársfield and River Plate. The format has evolved from two-legged eliminations with point systems to single-match knockouts at neutral venues. Knowing that the 2019–20 title was Boca's most recent helps contextualize their standing as the record four-time winners.

Did You Know?

The tournament was re-launched in 2011 with 186 teams from seven divisions playing at neutral locations.
A new aluminum trophy for the relaunch was manufactured at the Norberto Ambrosetti factory in Lobos, Buenos Aires.