Copa Argentina

Verified Timeline

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.

In Their Own Story

The modern era of the competition began with its official rescheduling in 2011, introducing a knockout system for 186 teams across seven divisions. Matches were disputed at neutral locations, including the Estadio del Bicentenario in San Juan. In August 2012, Boca Juniors secured their second trophy by defeating Racing Club 2–1. The final had been scheduled many times due to fixture congestion before finally taking place on August 8, 2012. The following season, the format shifted to a new two-phase knockout competition starting October 23, 2012, where Arsenal claimed their first title by defeating San Lorenzo. A new aluminum trophy was manufactured at the Norberto Ambrosetti factory in Lobos, Buenos Aires, for these relaunch years.

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?

• Boca Juniors is the most successful team with four titles, the latest won in the 2019–20 season.
• The 1970 Copa Argentina final between Boca and San Lorenzo ended in a 2–2 draw in the first leg but was never finished, meaning no Argentine team participated in the 1971 Copa Ganadores de Copa.
• In the inaugural 1969 edition, runner-up Atlanta qualified for the international "Copa Ganadores de Copa" because Boca won the 1969 Nacional and took the Libertadores slot.
• 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.