The Russian Cup is an annual competition for Russian football clubs.
Not only professional football clubs have the right to participate in the Russian Cup, so do amateur clubs representing winners of regional competitions of the third and fourth divisions, which have passed the certification of the Professional Football League.
The winner of the Cup faces the champion of Russia in a Super Cup match and also receives the right to play in the Europa League.
The Russian Cup is also held for women's national teams.
Since 1991, the Russian Cup has been held (at that time, it was the Soviet Cup). Until 2006, the tournament was managed by the Association of Women's Football of Russia. Since 2006, overall control of the Championship and the Russian Cup is carried out by the Russian Football Union (RFS).
Russian Cup 2026/27
The 2026/27 FONBET Russian Cup season kicked off in late July 2026. The tournament once again follows the two-path format, bringing together clubs from the Russian Premier League, First League, Second League, and winners of regional competitions.
The Regional Path matches were played from 28–30 July 2026, while the RPL Path group stage begins on 5 August and runs through 25 November 2026. The trophy winner will be decided in the Russian Cup Super Final on 6 June 2027.
The defending champions are Spartak Moscow, who won the trophy in the 2025/26 season. The new edition is once again expected to feature fierce competition between Russia's leading clubs and lower-division teams capable of producing major upsets.
Participants and Favorites
The tournament features clubs from the Russian Premier League, First League, Second League, as well as winners of regional competitions.
The leading title contenders traditionally include:
- Spartak Moscow — defending Russian Cup champions.
- Zenit Saint Petersburg — one of Russia's most successful clubs in recent years.
- CSKA Moscow — the most successful club in Russian Cup history.
- Krasnodar — a regular contender for domestic trophies.
- Lokomotiv Moscow and Dynamo Moscow — experienced clubs with strong cup pedigrees.
The Russian Cup format allows lower-division clubs to face Premier League opponents in the early rounds, making the competition one of the country's most unpredictable football tournaments.
Where Is It Played?
Russian Cup matches are held at the home stadiums of the participating clubs.
The Russian Cup Super Final is played at a neutral venue selected each year by the Russian Football Union (RFU).
Previous Super Final venues include:
- Luzhniki Stadium (Moscow)
- Gazprom Arena (Saint Petersburg)
- Yekaterinburg Arena (Yekaterinburg)
- Ak Bars Arena (Kazan)
The venue for the 2026/27 Super Final has not yet been officially announced.
History of the Russian Cup
The Russian Cup has been held since 1992, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
The first tournament was won by Spartak Moscow.
CSKA Moscow is the most successful club in the competition's history, having won the Russian Cup more times than any other team.
The current competition format has been in place since the 2022/23 season. The tournament is divided into the RPL Path and the Regional Path, allowing Premier League clubs to remain in contention even after an early defeat while giving lower-league teams a realistic opportunity to make a deep run.
The Russian Cup winner receives the national trophy and would qualify to represent Russia in UEFA competitions should Russian clubs be readmitted to European tournaments.
Interesting Facts
- The inaugural Russian Cup was held in 1992, with Spartak Moscow becoming the first champions.
- CSKA Moscow is the most decorated club in the history of the tournament.
- The modern format features the RPL Path and the Regional Path, allowing many teams to stay in contention even after losing a match.
- The Russian Cup is widely regarded as one of the country's most unpredictable competitions, with lower-division clubs regularly eliminating Premier League sides.
Results of Previous Russian Cup Seasons
| Season | Location | Results / Winners |
|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | Russia | Champions: Spartak MoscowRunners-up: Krasnodar |
| 2024/25 | Russia | Champions: CSKA MoscowRunners-up: Rostov |
| 2023/24 | Russia | Champions: Zenit Saint PetersburgRunners-up: Baltika |
| 2022/23 | Russia | Champions: CSKA MoscowRunners-up: Krasnodar |
Russian Cup 2027/28
The official schedule for the 2027/28 Russian Cup has not yet been published. The Russian Football Union (RFU) will announce the match calendar, draw dates, and the Super Final venue after the conclusion of the current season.
Keep an eye on the dates of football tournaments and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
