Coppa Italia

Lore & Background

The beginning of the tournament was turbulent, due to the complexity of the participation of the teams in the tournament, since its inception in 1921, the Italian championship was divided into two groups. On the one hand the rich CCI Championship (Italian Football Confederation) and on the other the poor FIGC championship (Italian Football Federation). Losing all its most prestigious clubs, the FIGC tried to enhance its rump season with a new cup. The tournament's first edition held in 1922 was won by F.C. Vado. The following agreement between the contenders did not contemplate a cup that, outside a failed 1926–27 tournament which was cancelled during the round of 32, was not held until 1935–36. The events of World War II interrupted the tournament after the 1942–43 season, and it did not resume again until 1958. Since then, it has been played annually or seasonally. The eight seasons during the fascist period were contested copying the FA Cup format. There was a different trophy, and the winners were awarded the tricolour scudetto while the championship winners obtained a Savoyard scudetto instead. The present-day cup and cockade were introduced in 1958. The cup was resumed following the voices of the creation of a Cup Winners Cup. Having the sole goal to define a participant to the new UEFA competition, the cup had a minimal direct elimination format. In 1967, following the reduction of the Serie A to 16 teams, semifinals and finals were replaced by a final post-season group, while the following year a pre-season group substituted the early rounds. In 1971, the format was restructured with two semifinal post-season groups, in order to introduce a fixed one-legged final in Rome. Ordinary quarterfinals and semi-finals were reintroduced in 1978, with a round of 16 when the competition was reopened to some Serie C clubs. Direct elimination then replaced any group when the Serie A was expanded to 18 club in the late eighties. After the expansion of the league to 20 clubs in the 2000s, the actual minimalist format was fixed.

In Their Own Story

The final of the 2025–26 Coppa Italia was a one-legged match where Inter Milan defeated Lazio 2–0 to secure their tenth title. The victory marked a significant achievement for the Nerazzurri, who had entered the competition as one of the top-seeded teams. The semi-finals had been a test of nerve: Inter won 3–2 on aggregate, while Lazio's semi-final ended 3–3 on aggregate, with Lazio prevailing 2–1 in a penalty shootout. The defending champions, Bologna, who had won their third title in the previous edition by beating AC Milan 1–0, saw their campaign end in the quarter-finals at the hands of Lazio. The tournament featured 44 teams, with Serie A clubs seeded 1–8 joining in the round of 16, and the final was the culmination of a single-elimination knockout format.

Reader's Guide

The competition is a knockout tournament with pairings for each round made in advance; the draw for the whole competition is made before a ball is kicked. Each tie is played as a single leg, except a two-legged semi-final stage. Through the 2023–24 edition, extra time was played following all matches drawn after 90 minutes. Beginning with the 2024–25 edition, extra time is only possible in the semi-finals and the final; matches drawn after 90 minutes in all other rounds are immediately followed by a penalty shoot-out to determine which team will advance to the next round. In addition to being presented with the trophy, the winning team also qualifies for the UEFA Europa League. If the winners have already qualified for the UEFA Champions League via the Serie A or are not entitled to play in UEFA competitions for any reason, the place goes to the next highest placed team in the league table. There are a total of seven rounds in the competition. It begins in August with the preliminary round and is contested only by the eight lowest-ranked clubs. Clubs playing in Serie B join in during the first round with the 12 lowest-ranked teams in Serie A based on the previous league season's positions (unless they are to compete in European competition that year) begin the competition in the first round before August is over. The remaining eight Serie A teams join the competition in the third round in winter, at which point 16 teams remain. The quarterfinals are then played in quick succession, and the semi-finals are played in April, before the final in May. The two-legged final was eliminated for the 2007–08 edition and a single-match final is now played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

Did You Know?

• The 1922 tournament was contested only by smaller clubs who remained associated with FIGC, following the formation of a breakaway league by the larger teams who participated the 1921–22 Prima Divisione.
• Although 79 tournaments have been contested, only 78 titles have been assigned. The 1926–27 edition was abandoned in the round of 32.
• From 1968 to 1971, FIGC introduced a final group instead of semi-finals and finals. For statistical equity, only champions and runners-up of those groups are counted as finalists.
• Gianluigi Buffon and Roberto Mancini have the most Coppa Italia titles with 6 each.