The 2024-25 Swiss Cup marks the 100th anniversary of Switzerland’s annual football cup competition, and today sees the magic begin as 64 teams from the first to eighth tier of Swiss football enter the fray.
Format & Structure
This is a traditional knockout cup competition featuring teams from across the entire Swiss football pyramid. The 21 eligible members of the Swiss Football League are automatically qualified, meaning all Super League and Challenge League clubs get direct entry. The remaining spots are filled through a qualification process that sees amateur clubs from lower divisions battle for their place.
The tournament runs in a straight knockout format, with the first round played from 16-18 August 2024 and the final scheduled for 1 June 2025 at Bern’s Stadion Wankdorf.
What Makes It Special
The competition is shaped by games in the first rounds when villages celebrate the tie of their club with a professional team, leading to infrastructure improvements and often thousands of spectators at the local football pitch. These David vs. Goliath matchups are the tournament’s beating heart.
FC Biel-Bienne made history this season as the first amateur club to reach the semi-finals since 1999, showing that giant-killings do happen – though they’re increasingly rare as the gap between professional and amateur football widens.
Stakes & Rewards
The winner qualifies for the play-off round of the 2025-26 UEFA Europa League, providing crucial European qualification pathway outside of league position. Servette are the defending champions and will look to retain their crown.
Tomorrow’s first round will see professional clubs travel to tiny villages, where local heroes get their once-in-a-lifetime shot at glory. While upsets are rare, the romance and unpredictability of cup football ensures every tie carries the potential for magic.
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