Maltese Cup
The Maltese Cup is Malta's premier knockout football competition, run by the Malta Football Association (MFA). It brings together clubs from every division, giving underdogs a real shot at glory. Since 1935, it has been a cornerstone of Maltese football, famed for passionate crowds and shocking upsets.
History and foundation
Launched in 1935 as the King George V Trophy, it was renamed the Maltese Cup in 1939. Over the decades, it has witnessed dominance by Sliema Wanderers in the 1980s and fierce rivalries between Hibernians and Hamrun Spartans in the 1990s. In the 2000s, Sliema reclaimed supremacy. A standout moment: in 2016/17, lower-league St. Andrews reached the final, stunning top teams in one of Malta's biggest fairy tales.
Tournament format
Single-elimination format starts with preliminary rounds for lower-division sides. The main draw features 16–32 teams from the Premier League and First Division. Ties are decided by extra time or penalties; the final is held at the National Stadium in Ta' Qali, capacity 17,000. The competition runs from September to May.
Interesting facts
Matches average 2.8–3.2 goals, fueled by attacking football and cup intensity. Top scorers include Michael Mifsud (over 20 cup goals) and Andrew Cohen of Sliema. Stars like Elijo Valletta, Sliema's 90s powerhouse striker; modern heroes such as Theodor Corradini (Hibernians) and Zacharia El-Gadhi (Birkirkara). It often spotlights rising stars like Clive Nicolo from Pieta Hotspurs.