Taça de Portugal (Portugal)

The Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal, first played in 1938/39) is Portugal’s main domestic knockout cup competition organised by the Portuguese Football Federation. Regulations: it is played as a straight knockout with participants drawn from the national league system and district associations, early rounds may be organised on a geographical basis, and the competition consists of seven rounds plus the final. All rounds are single-leg ties except the semi-finals, which are played over two legs home and away. In single-leg rounds, if level after 90 minutes there is 30 minutes of extra time and, if still level, a penalty shoot-out. In the semi-finals, the winner is decided on aggregate goals and, if level after the second leg, extra time and then penalties decide it. The final is staged at a venue designated by the federation, traditionally the National Stadium at Jamor. The winner qualifies for the UEFA Europa League league phase for the following season, if the cup winner has already qualified for the UEFA Champions League via the league the Europa League place is reallocated to the Primeira Liga third-placed team, and UEFA entry also requires the club to hold a UEFA licence.