Coupe de France Féminine
The Coupe de France Féminine is France's premier women's national cup competition, run by the French Football Federation (FFF). It features top women's clubs from Division 1 Féminine down to amateur leagues, creating opportunities for giant-killings and underdog stories that captivate fans and highlight the rising tide of women's soccer in France.
History and foundation
The tournament's history dates back to the 1980s, officially launching in the 1984/85 season with AS Vandœuvre claiming the inaugural title. Over the decades, it has witnessed dominance shifts: FC Clermont Féminin in the 1990s, followed by Olympique Lyonnais' staggering run of 15 consecutive wins from 2008 to 2022. Memorable moments include Lyon's 5-0 thrashing of PSG in the 2011 final and PSG's breakthrough 2-1 victory in 2022. Reforms in the 2010s by FFF boosted professionalism, aligning it with France's Euro 2017 hosting ambitions.
Tournament format
It's a straight knockout format with single-leg ties. Hundreds of teams enter, from elite Division 1 to Regional 3. Regional qualifiers begin in autumn, leading to the Round of 32 in January. Early rounds favor home advantage for lower seeds; later stages shift to neutral venues. The final is a highlight at the Stade de France, drawing massive crowds. The 2023/24 edition saw over 800 matches played.
Interesting facts
Known for goal-fests, the average goals per game hover around 3.5, with blowouts in preliminary rounds. All-time top scorer Evelyn Nahi (Lyon) netted over 50 cup goals. Stars like Wendie Renard, who lifted multiple trophies with Lyon and PSG, Delphine Cascarino from the 90s era, and modern icons Ada Hegerberg and Christiane Endler have lit up the competition. It often unearths gems from lower divisions, such as Toulon's semi-final run in 2019.