Cup (Russia) 2026/27

The Russian Cup is the primary national knockout football tournament, organized by the Russian Football Union. In contrast to the league system which determines the champion through points, this competition relies on a single-elimination format to crown its winner. While the modern iteration began in 1992 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it maintains a distinct history from the short-lived Russian Premier League Cup of 2003.

The structure for the 2025/26 season marks a shift back to a classic knockout format, having abolished the previous group stage system. This change simplifies the path to the title, removing the complexity of the parallel "Path of the RPL" and "Path of the Regions" tracks that divided teams into Upper and Lower Brackets under the 2022/23 rules. Previously, the sixteen Russian Premier League clubs contested a double round-robin group stage, with the top two advancing to the Upper Bracket and third-place teams dropping to the Lower Bracket. Regional clubs from the First and Second Leagues entered via early single-match rounds. Now, the knockout stages proceed directly through quarter-finals and semi-finals played over two legs, culminating in a single Super Final.

There is no direct promotion or relegation link to the league system. The principal prize remains qualification for the Russian Super Cup. Historically, the victor also earned a spot in the UEFA Europa League, although Russian clubs have been suspended from European competitions since 2022. The tournament is distinguished by its inclusion of all tiers of Russian football, setting it apart from the exclusive top-flight Premier League Cup.

Lokomotiv Moscow and CSKA Moscow are the most successful clubs, each holding nine titles. CSKA Moscow is the current holder, having defeated Rostov in the 2024/25 Super Final. Spartak Moscow and Zenit Saint Petersburg have each won the competition five times. The event is not to be confused with other domestic tournaments, maintaining its status as the country's main domestic cup since 1992.