Croatian Cup - Format

Format

The competition is open to 48 clubs, based on various criteria:

  • Top 16 best-ranked teams according to coefficients calculated by the CFF (which take into account their cup results over the last five seasons)
  • 21 regional cup winners organised at the county level
  • 11 regional cup finalists (from the top 11 counties with the greatest number of registered football clubs)

Clubs which qualify through regional cups always enter in the preliminary round, which consists of 16 single-legged fixtures. In case of a draw at the end of normal time thirty minutes of extra time is played (two fifteen minute halves) and if scores are still level there is a penalty shootout to determine the winner of the competition. Top level teams usually enter in the first round proper (round of 32).

From the quarter-finals onwards the competition employs a two-legged tie format, with winners progressing through on aggregate score. In case the score is still level at the end of the second leg's normal time, a penalty shootout follows to determine tie winners (i.e. extra time is not played in two-legged ties). As of May 2011, only the 2009 final has been determined by a penalty shootout (in which Dinamo Zagreb beat Hajduk Split after both legs were won 3–0 by home teams).

The format had gone through several changes over the years, including the single-legged final, which was briefly introduced and played on two occasions in 1997 and 1999.

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