Coppa Italia (Italy)

Coppa Italia (founded in 1922) is Italy’s domestic knockout cup competition for men’s professional clubs, organised by Lega Serie A. Tournament regulations: 44 clubs take part, including all 20 Serie A clubs and 20 Serie B clubs, plus four Serie C clubs determined by the previous season’s outcomes (the Serie C promotion play-off final winner, three Serie C group runners-up and the Coppa Italia Serie C winner). The bracket is set in advance and seeded based on the prior season, with eight top seeds entering at the round of 16, and most rounds played as single-leg ties hosted by the higher seed. In single-leg rounds, ties level after 90 minutes are typically decided by a penalty shoot-out without extra time. The semi-finals are played over two legs, decided on aggregate goals, and if still level after the second leg they go to extra time and then penalties. The final is a single match, in principle at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico or at another venue designated by the league, and if level it goes to extra time and then penalties. The winner qualifies for the UEFA Europa League league phase for the following season subject to UEFA admission and licensing, and if the cup winner has already qualified for Europe via the league, the cup-winner berth is reallocated in line with UEFA rules to the next best-placed domestic league club not already qualified.