Copa Costa Rica 2025/26

The Copa Costa Rica serves as the primary knockout competition in the country's football pyramid, officially titled the Torneo de Copa de Costa Rica. Organized by the Unión de Clubes de Fútbol de la Primera División (UNAFUT), the tournament functions as the national cup, distinct from the league championships. It involves 22 teams drawn from the top tiers of the domestic structure: 12 clubs from the Primera División, eight from the Segunda División, and two from the Third Division. The format is a single-elimination contest that progresses through preliminary rounds, a Round of 32, a Round of 16, Quarterfinals, and Semifinals, concluding with a single-match Final at a neutral venue.

Ties are decided by penalty kicks without extra time. Recent regulations require participating clubs to field young players born between 2004 and 2008 for a minimum of 360 minutes per match. This structure provides a pathway for smaller clubs to compete against established giants. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the Supercopa Centroamericana and historically for CONCACAF competitions.

The event was founded in 1924, with the inaugural edition sponsored by the newspaper *Diario de Costa Rica*. C.S. Herediano won that first title. The specific name "Copa Costa Rica" was used for editions in 1954, 1959, 1967, and 1970, but it remains the common identifier for the cup in modern media. The competition has experienced periods of inactivity before being revived in 2022.

C.S. Herediano and L.D. Alajuelense are tied with 11 titles each, making them the most successful clubs in the history of the competition. Deportivo Saprissa follows with eight titles. In the 2024–25 season, L.D. Alajuelense defeated Puntarenas FC 1–0 in the final. The following season saw Deportivo Saprissa claim victory against Sporting FC 3–1 in Liberia.