Cupa României

Cupa României
Organiser(s)Romanian Football Federation
Founded1933; 93 years ago (1933)
RegionRomania
Teams202
Qualifier forUEFA Europa League
Domestic cupSupercupa României
Current championsUniversitatea Craiova (8th cup)
Most championshipsSteaua (21 cups)/FCSB (24 cups) (disputed)
Broadcaster(s)Digi Sport
Prima Sport
Websitecuparomaniei.frf.ro
2026–27 Cupa României

The Cupa României (English: Romanian Cup) is a football cup competition for Romanian teams which has been held annually since 1933–34, except during World War II. It is the country's main cup competition and is open to all clubs affiliated with the Romanian Football Federation (FRF) and the county football associations, regardless of the league in which they compete. The winner of the competition qualifies for the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds and faces the league champion in the Supercupa României.

The Romanian Cup is widely known for its knockout format and the possibility of surprising results, with lower-division teams occasionally eliminating top-flight clubs. Over the decades, the competition has produced many memorable finals and dramatic matches decided in extra time or on penalties, contributing to its reputation as one of the most unpredictable competitions in Romanian football.

Most finals have historically been held in Bucharest, particularly at the Stadionul Național (formerly known as "23 August"). In recent decades the final has occasionally been hosted in other major cities across the country. During the construction of the new Stadionul Național, the final was staged each year in a different city. In 2007, the final was held in Timișoara at the Dan Păltinișanu stadium, only the second time the event had taken place outside Bucharest after Brașov hosted the 1989 final. In the following years, finals were also staged in cities such as Piatra Neamț, Târgu Jiu, Iași and again in Brașov, before several editions returned to Bucharest following the opening of the Arena Națională.

Historically, the competition has been dominated by clubs from Bucharest. According to the official records of the Romanian Football Federation, the most successful club in the history of the competition is Steaua București with 23 trophies, followed by Rapid București and Dinamo București with 13 trophies each. Court decisions in Romania regarding the legal dispute between CSA Steaua București and FCSB established that the historical honours of Steaua București up to 1998 belong to the CSA Steaua sports club. As a result, the Romanian Cup trophies won by the club before that date are officially attributed to Steaua București in FRF records.

One of the most remarkable achievements in the competition’s history belongs to Rapid București, which won the Romanian Cup six consecutive times between 1937 and 1942, a record that still stands today.

Sponsorship

Former logo between 2006 and 2016

On 22 July 2005, FRF and Samsung Electronics signed a one-year sponsorship deal. The name of the competition was changed to Cupa României Samsung.

On 9 October 2006, FRF and Ursus Breweries (part of the SABMiller group) signed a sponsorship agreement for the next three seasons. Ursus Breweries changed the name of the competition to Cupa României Timișoreana, after the Timișoreana beer brand.

On 16 May 2016, FRF announced the rebranding of competition and the signing of contracts with new sponsors such as Kaufland, UPC Broadband and Stanleybet.

On 20 October 2017, FRF announced that the new main sponsor of the competition is the betting company Casa Pariurilor.

Competition format

The competition has undergone minor changes in format over the years. The following format came in use in the 2009–10 season. The main differences between the current system and the last one are the dates at which rounds take place, and the two-legged format of the semifinals.

County phase

The competition at this phase is organized by the county football associations. Forty-two teams (one from each county) advance to the next phase.

National phase

The competition at this phase is organized by the Romanian Football Federation (FRF). For the first five rounds, teams are paired using geographical criteria in order to avoid long travel distances. The teams from a lower division or with a lower ranking in the last league season host the games.

Starting with this round a seeding system is used for the draw, as follows:
Teams from pot A are paired with teams from pot C, then the eight remaining pot C teams are paired with pot B teams, with the lower league clubs hosting the games. The four remaining pot B teams will play each other, with the host club determined by means of a draw.

Every year, based on the national and international football calendar, FRF's executive committee may choose a two-leg or one-leg system for the round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. Games at these stages are, when played using a one-leg system, hosted by a neutral venue. The final is held at a pre-established venue, normally in Bucharest.

Results of the Finals

Performances

Performance by club

Since its establishment, the Cupa României has been won by 23 clubs. Teams shown in italics are no longer in existence. Additionally, if two or more teams are tied with the same number of trophies, the one that achieved the performance first is ranked above the others.

Position Club Winners Winning years Runners-up Runners-up years Total
appearances
finals		 Semi-final
losses
1 Steaua București
21
 1948–49, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, 1961–62, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99
7
 1953, 1963–64, 1976–77, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90
28
9
2 Dinamo București
13
 1958–59, 1963–64, 1967–68, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1989–90, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2011–12
9
 1954, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1986–87, 1988–89, 2001–02, 2010–11, 2015–16
22
17
3 Rapid București
13
 1934–35, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1938–39, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2005–06, 2006–07
6
 1960–61, 1961–62, 1967–68, 1994–95, 1998–99, 2011–12
19
12
4 Universitatea Craiova
8
 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1990–91, 2017–18, 2020–21, 2025–26
2
 1974–75, 1984–85
10
6
5 CFR Cluj
5
 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2015–16, 2024–25
1
 2012–13
6
2
6 FCSB
3
 2010–11, 2014–15, 2019–20
1
 2013–14
4
1
6 Petrolul Ploiești
3
 1962–63, 1994–95, 2012–13
1
 1952
4
6
8 Politehnica Timișoara
2
 1957–58, 1979–80
6
 1973–74, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1991–92, 2006–07, 2008–09
8
2
9 Ripensia Timișoara
2
 1933–34, 1935–36
2
 1934–35, 1936–37
4
–
9 UTA Arad
2
 1947–48, 1953
2
 1950, 1965–66
4
2
11 Sepsi Sfântu Gheorghe
2
 2021–22, 2022–23
1
 2019–20
3
–
12 Universitatea Cluj
1
 1964–65
6
 1933–34, 1941–42, 1948–49, 2014–15, 2022–23, 2025–26
7
6
13 Progresul București
1
 1959–60
4
 1957–58, 1996–97, 2002–03, 2005–06
5
6
14 FC U Craiova 1948
1
 1992–93
3
 1993–94, 1997–98, 1999–00
4
4
14 Astra Giurgiu
1
 2013–14
3
 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21
4
3
16 Progresul Oradea
1
 1956
1
 1955
2
4
16 Jiul Petroșani
1
 1973–74
1
 1971–72
2
2
16 Gloria Bistrița
1
 1993–94
1
 1995–96
2
4
16 Voluntari
1
 2016–17
1
 2021–22
2
1
20 CFR Turnu Severin
1
 1942–43
–
 –
1
–
20 Metalul Reșița
1
 1954
–
 –
1
1
20 Arieșul Turda
1
 1960–61
–
 –
1
1
20 Chimia Râmnicu Vâlcea
1
 1972–73
–
 –
1
1
20 Viitorul Constanța
1
 2018–19
–
 –
1
1
20 Corvinul Hunedoara
1
 2023–24
–
 –
1
3
26 Sportul Studențesc București
–
 –
3
 1938–39, 1942–43, 1978–79
3
4
27 Unirea Tricolor București
–
 –
2
 1935–36, 1940–41
2
–
27 Baia Mare
–
 –
2
 1958–59, 1981–82
2
1
27 Oțelul Galați
–
 –
2
 2003–04, 2023–24
2
2
27 Hermannstadt
–
 –
2
 2017–18, 2024–25
2
–
31 CAM Timișoara
–
 –
1
 1937–38
1
1
31 Venus București
–
 –
1
 1939–40
1
6
31 CFR Timișoara
–
 –
1
 1947–48
1
1
31 Flacăra Mediaș
–
 –
1
 1951
1
2
31 Energia Câmpia Turzii
–
 –
1
 1956
1
–
31 Dinamo Obor București
–
 –
1
 1959–60
1
4
31 Siderurgistul Galați
–
 –
1
 1962–63
1
–
31 Dinamo Pitești
–
 –
1
 1964–65
1
9
31 Foresta Fălticeni
–
 –
1
 1966–67
1
–
31 Constructorul Galați
–
 –
1
 1972–73
1
–
31 CSU Galați
–
 –
1
 1975–76
1
–
31 Olimpia Satu Mare
–
 –
1
 1977–78
1
–
31 Bacău
–
 –
1
 1990–91
1
3
31 Dacia Unirea Brăila
–
 –
1
 1992–93
1
1
31 Rocar București
–
 –
1
 2000–01
1
–
31 Farul Constanța
–
 –
1
 2004–05
1
4
31 Unirea Urziceni
–
 –
1
 2007–08
1
–
31 Vaslui
–
 –
1
 2009–10
1
2

Performance by city

The following table sorts cities by the number of Cups won by local teams. Bucharest, hosting the three most decorated sides in the competition and having staged the majority of the Cup finals, is by far the most prolific city.

Map of Romania with the cities/towns of the Romanian Cup winners marked.
Cities/towns with eleven or more Romanian Cup wins.
Cities/towns with 2–10 wins.
Cities/towns with 1 win.

List of stadiums in Cupa României

The following table lists the stadiums which have hosted at least one Cupa României final. When an edition required one or more replays at the same stadium, that stadium is counted only once for that edition.

No. City County Appearances Stadium
1 Bucharest Bucharest 40 Stadionul 23 August / Stadionul Național — 1953, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2005–06
2 Bucharest Bucharest 11 Stadionul Republicii — 1950, 1951, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1976–77, 1977–78
3 Bucharest Bucharest 6 Stadionul ONEF — 1933–34, 1934–35, 1936–37, 1939–40, 1940–41, 1942–43
Bucharest Bucharest 6 Arena Națională — 2011–12, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18
5 Bucharest Bucharest 4 Stadionul Venus — 1935–36, 1938–39, 1941–42, 1947–48
Ploiești Prahova 4 Stadionul Ilie Oană — 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
7 Sibiu Sibiu 3 Stadionul Municipal — 2022–23, 2023–24, 2025–26
8 Bucharest Bucharest 2 Stadionul Giulești — 1937–38, 1939–40
Bucharest Bucharest 2 Stadionul Regie — 1991–92, 1993–94
Bucharest Bucharest 2 Stadionul Cotroceni — 2003–04, 2004–05
11 Timișoara Timiș 1 Stadionul Electrica — 1933–34
Bucharest Bucharest 1 Stadionul ICAS — 1948–49
Brașov Brașov 1 Stadionul Municipal — 1988–89
Timișoara Timiș 1 Stadionul Dan Păltinișanu — 2006–07
Piatra Neamț Neamț 1 Stadionul Ceahlăul — 2007–08
Târgu Jiu Gorj 1 Stadionul Tudor Vladimirescu — 2008–09
Iași Iași 1 Stadionul Emil Alexandrescu — 2009–10
Brașov Brașov 1 Stadionul Silviu Ploeșteanu — 2010–11
Bucharest Bucharest 1 Stadionul Rapid-Giulești — 2021–22
Arad Arad 1 Stadionul Francisc von Neuman — 2024–25
Map of Romania with the Cupa României final host cities marked
Bucharest
Timișoara
Brașov
Ploiești
Sibiu
Piatra Neamț
Târgu Jiu
Iași
Arad
Map of Romania with the cities that have hosted the Cupa României final marked.
City with 10 or more hosted editions.
Cities with 2–9 hosted editions.
Cities with 1 hosted edition.

Records

As of 23 August 2022
Top five goalscorers
Player Club Goals
1 Romania Florea Voinea Steaua București, Prahova Ploiești 40
2 Romania Gyula Barátky Rapid București, Crișana Oradea 37
3 Romania Ionel Dănciulescu Electroputere Craiova, Dinamo București, Steaua București 35
4 Romania Ion Alecsandrescu Steaua București, CA Câmpulung Moldovenesc 34
5 Romania Ștefan Dobay Ripensia Timișoara 33

Notes

  1. ↑ Subject to legal challenge: see Steaua București football records dispute

References

  1. ↑ "Cupa și Supercupa României – Samsung". Gazeta de Nord-Vest (in Romanian). 2005-07-23. Archived from the original on 2008-05-14. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  2. ↑ Tudor, Diana (2007-07-04). "Cum au ajuns Bergenbier, Timisoreana si Burger titulari pe terenul de fotbal". Ziarul Financiar (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 2008-05-11. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Parteneriat FRF-Timișoreana" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. 2010-02-23. Archived from the original on 2015-11-22. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "FOTO Cupa României s-a rebranduit – Cum arată noul logo și noile medalii ale competiției". GSP.ro. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. ↑ "Federația Română de Fotbal lansează noul brand al Cupei României, cu ocazia finalei numărul 78 a competiției". FRF. Archived from the original on 6 February 2018. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  6. ↑ "Casa Pariurilor este noul sponsor al Ligii 2 și al Cupei României" [Casa Pariurilor is the new sponsor of Liga II and Romanian Cup] (in Romanian). FRF. 20 October 2017. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017. Retrieved 20 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Regulament" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  8. ↑ "Regulamentul de desfasurare a activitatii fotbalistice" (in Romanian). Romanian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
  9. ↑ "List of Cupa României finals". Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Muresanu, Catalin; Toma, Razvan (22 April 2011). "La trântă cu recordurile și în Cupă!". ProSport (in Romanian). Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Dănciulescu, cel mai bun marcator pentru Dinamo în Cupă" [Danciulescu, the best scorer for Dinamo in the Cup] (in Romanian). Adevarul.ro. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  12. ↑ "Dănciulescu, cel mai bun marcator pentru Dinamo în Cupă" [Danciulescu, the best scorer for Dinamo in the Cup] (in Romanian). Click.ro. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2022.