Copa (Venezuela)

Cup (Venezuela) (Copa Venezuela) - Venezuela’s national domestic cup competition organised by the Venezuelan Football Federation. Regulations: the tournament features 28 clubs, 14 from the top division and 14 from the second division, and is played in two phases starting with a group stage for 20 teams split into five groups of four with home and away matches, with the five group winners and the three best runners-up advancing. The group stage uses the 3-1-0 points system and ties on points are broken by goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head criteria, then a draw of lots. In the Round of 16 the eight teams advancing from the groups are joined by eight clubs granted direct entry, and the competition then continues through the Round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, all played over two legs, with the winner decided on aggregate under the tie-deciding procedures set by the regulations, including penalties when required. An additional competition rule imposes mandatory under-23 player requirements in match line-ups. The winner qualifies to play the Venezuelan Super Cup against the league champion.