UEFA Regions' Cup

Last updated
UEFA Regions' Cup
UEFA Regions' cup logo.svg
Organising body UEFA
Founded1996;28 years ago (1996)
Region Europe
Number of teamsUp to 53 (Qualifiers)
8 (Finals)
Current champions Flag of Spain.svg Galicia (1st title)
Website www.uefa.com/regionscup/
Soccerball current event.svg 2023 UEFA Regions' Cup

The UEFA Regions' Cup is a football competition for amateur teams in Europe, run by UEFA. It was held for the first time in 1999 and has been played biennially since. The 2023 champions are the Galicia team from Spain.

Contents

The competition was created in 1996 as there was no European level competition for amateur teams. The UEFA Amateur Cup, a previous attempt to organise a continental competition for amateurs, had run from 1966 to 1978, but ceased due to lack of interest from both the public and amateur teams themselves. In contrast to today's Regions' Cup, in which amateur regions are represented, the previous competition was for representative amateur national teams.

Each UEFA member nation may enter one representative amateur team into the competition, with regions having to win a domestic amateur competition (such as the FA Inter-League Cup) in order to qualify.

The first two finals were won by teams from the host nation. Thus far, Italy and Spain have been the most successful nation in the competition, with their representatives winning respectively three of the twelve editions.

Format

All of the 55 UEFA-affiliated associations are eligible to submit a team to compete in the Regions' Cup, provided they hold a domestic qualifying competition to decide which team will represent that nation. Smaller member nations, however, are permitted to enter a representative national side.

Teams were entered by 32 nations for the inaugural tournament in 1999 and competed in one qualifying round. As interest in the tournament grew over the years, the qualifying stage was enlarged and an extra group round added in 2005, scrapping the playoffs added in 2001.

The preliminary round consists of a small number of teams split into groups, with the best from each group being included in the draw for the intermediary round. In the intermediary round, the teams are placed into eight groups of four teams. The teams in each group play each other once and the team finishing top of the group qualifies for the Regions' Cup finals. The eight group winners are placed into two groups of four for the final tournament and the winners of these two final groups, after each team has played one another once, play in the final, with the winners being crowned champions. Third place is shared between the two teams which finish second in their respective groups.

One aspect of the Regions' Cup that is different from most other international club tournaments is the hosting of games. As teams play each other once in the preliminary and intermediary rounds, in contrast to the more common two-legged fixtures, each group has all its matches held in one particular region. For example, in the 2009 tournament, all the preliminary Group 1 matches were played in San Marino. Another unusual feature of the Regions' Cup is the choice of host for the final tournament. In most football tournaments, the host nation or city is decided by the governing body before qualification begins. In the Regions' Cup, however, the host is chosen only after most of the eight finalist teams have qualified, with one of the qualified regions selected as host.

Results

EditionYearHostsWinnersScoreRunners-upBronze medals
11999
details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Italy.svg
Veneto
32 ( a.e.t. ) Flag of Spain.svg
Madrid
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Prague
Flag of Ukraine.svg
Kyiv Oblast
22001
details
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Czech Republic
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Central Moravia
22
42 ( p )
Flag of Portugal.svg
Braga
Flag of Spain.svg
Madrid
Flag of Bulgaria.svg
Plovdiv
32003
details
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg
Piedmont-Aosta Valley
21 Flag of France (lighter variant).svg
Maine
Flag of Hungary.svg
Szabolcs Gabona
Flag of Germany.svg
Württemberg
42005
details
Flag of Poland.svg
Poland
Flag of Spain.svg
Basque Country
10 Flag of Bulgaria.svg
South-West Sofia
Flag of Ukraine.svg
Kzeso
Flag of Slovakia.svg
Central Slovakia
52007
details
Flag of Bulgaria.svg
Bulgaria
Flag of Poland.svg
Lower Silesia
21 ( a.e.t. ) Flag of Bulgaria.svg
South-East Region
Flag of Portugal.svg
Aveiro
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg
Tuzla Canton
62009
details
Flag of Croatia.svg
Croatia
Flag of Spain.svg
Castile and León
21 Flag of Romania.svg
Oltenia
Flag of Russia.svg
Privolzhie
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg
Kempen
72011
details
Flag of Portugal.svg
Portugal
Flag of Portugal.svg
Braga
21 Flag of Ireland.svg
Leinster & Munster
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg
Zlín
Flag of Serbia.svg
Belgrade
82013
details
Flag of Italy.svg
Italy
Flag of Italy.svg
Veneto
00
54 ( p )
Flag of Spain.svg
Catalonia
Flag of Hungary.svg
Eastern Region
Flag of Belarus.svg
Isloch
92015
details
Flag of Ireland.svg
Ireland
Flag of Ireland.svg
Eastern Region
10 Flag of Croatia.svg
Zagreb
Flag of Turkey.svg
Ankara
Flag of Germany.svg
Württemberg
102017
details
Flag of Turkey.svg
Turkey
Flag of Croatia.svg
Zagreb
10 Flag of Ireland.svg
Munster/Connacht
Flag of Turkey.svg
Istanbul
Flag of Russia.svg
Rostov Oblast
112019
details
Flag of Germany.svg
Germany
Flag of Poland.svg
Lower Silesia
32 Flag of Germany.svg
Bavaria
Flag of Turkey.svg
Istanbul
Flag of Spain.svg
Castile and León
-2021
details
N/ACancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic [1]
122023
details
Flag of Spain.svg
Spain
Flag of Spain.svg
Galicia
31 Flag of Serbia.svg
Belgrade
Flag of Germany.svg
Bavaria
Flag of Czech Republic.svg
Zlín

Finals

Veneto Flag of Italy.svg 32
(a.e.t.)
Flag of Spain.svg Madrid
Borriero Soccerball shade.svg<45'
Giaretti Soccerball shade.svg>45'
De Toni Soccerball shade.svg120'
(Report) Moreno Soccerball shade.svg9'
Sanz Pascual Soccerball shade.svg71'
Stadio Comunale delle Terme, Abano Terme
Attendance: 700 [2]
Referee: Guido Wildhaber (Switzerland)

Braga Flag of Portugal.svg 22
(a.e.t)
(24 pen.)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Central Moravia
Ferreira Soccerball shade.svg55'
Freitas Soccerball shade.svg84'
(Report) David Soccerball shade.svg12'
Svach Soccerball shade.svg90+4' (pen.)
Letná Stadion, Zlín
Attendance: 2,820 [2]
Referee: Tony Chapron (France)

Maine Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 12 Flag of Italy (2003-2006).svg Piedmont–Aosta Valley
Kharraz Soccerball shade.svg83' (Report) Borgna Soccerball shade.svg24', 29'
Albstadion, Heidenheim
Attendance: 800 [2]
Referee: Kris Hermans (Belgium)

South-West Sofia Flag of Bulgaria.svg 01 Flag of Spain.svg Basque Country
(Report) Arroyo Soccerball shade.svg33'
KS Proszowianka Stadium, Proszowice
Attendance: 1,300 [3]
Referee: Novo Panić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

South-East Region Flag of Bulgaria.svg 12 (a.e.t.) Flag of Poland.svg Lower Silesia
Stoyanov Soccerball shade.svg66' (Report) Sudoł Soccerball shade.svg78'
Jaskułowski Soccerball shade.svg114'
Hadzhi Dimitar Stadium, Sliven
Attendance: 3,500 [4]
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento (Italy)

Oltenia Flag of Romania.svg 12 Flag of Spain.svg Castile and León
Sîrbu Soccerball shade.svg25' (Report) Ramírez Soccerball shade.svg20'
Robles Soccerball shade.svg81'

Braga Flag of Portugal.svg 21 Flag of Ireland.svg Leinster & Munster
Nobre Soccerball shade.svg62'
Fortunato Soccerball shade.svg84'
Report O'Sullivan Soccerball shade.svg68'
Cidade de Barcelos, Barcelos
Attendance: 1036 [6]
Referee: Ken Henry Johnson (Norway)

Veneto Flag of Italy.svg 00
(54 pen.)
Flag of Spain.svg Catalonia
(Report)
Comunale Delle Terme, Abano Terme
Attendance: 800 [7]
Referee: Artur Soares Dias (Portugal)

Eastern Region Flag of Ireland.svg 10 Flag of Croatia.svg Zagreb
David Lacey Soccerball shade.svg10' Report
Tallaght Stadium, Dublin
Attendance: 1172 [8]
Referee: Nikolaj Hänni (Switzerland)

Zagreb Flag of Croatia.svg 10 Flag of Ireland.svg Munster/Connacht
Adžić Soccerball shade.svg26' Report

Bavaria Flag of Germany.svg 23 Flag of Poland.svg Lower Silesia
Türk Soccerball shade.svg35' (pen.)
Ekin Soccerball shade.svg90' (pen.)
Report Jaros Soccerball shade.svg41'
Traczyk Soccerball shade.svg47' (pen.)
Bohdanowicz Soccerball shade.svg80' (pen.)
Wacker-Arena, Burghausen
Attendance: 1224 [10]
Referee: Sebastian Colţescu (Romania)

Galicia Flag of Spain.svg 3–1 Flag of Serbia.svg Belgrade
  • Rial Soccerball shade.svg9'
  • Rey Soccerball shade.svg41' (pen.)
  • Martinez Soccerball shade.svg74'
Report
  • Kolarević Soccerball shade.svg57'
Campo Municipal de A Lomba, Vilagarcía de Arousa
Attendance: 4.085
Referee: Kristoffer Karlsson (Sweden)

Titles by country

CountryTitlesRunners-upWinning teamsSecond-placed teams
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 32Basque Country (2005)Madrid (1999)
Castile and León (2009)Catalonia (2013)
Galicia (2023*)
Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 30Veneto (1999*, 2013*)None
Piedmont–Aosta Valley (2003)
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland 20Lower Silesia (2007, 2019)None
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland 12Eastern Region (2015*)Leinster & Munster (2011)
Munster/Connacht (2017)
Flag of Portugal.svg  Portugal 11Braga (2011*)Braga (2001)
Flag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 11Zagreb (2017)Zagreb (2015)
Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 10Central Moravia (2001*)None
Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 02NoneSouth-West Sofia (2005)
South-East Region (2007*)
Flag of France.svg  France 01NoneMaine (2003)
Flag of Romania.svg  Romania 01NoneOltenia (2009)
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 01NoneBavaria (2019*)
Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 01NoneBelgrade (2023)
* = Hosts

See also

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References

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