North Macedonia Cup. Women
The North Macedonia Women's Cup is the premier knockout competition for women's football clubs in the country, run by the Football Federation of North Macedonia. It brings together top teams in a thrilling chase for glory, spotlighting the surge in women's soccer popularity across the Balkans.
History and foundation
Launched in the early 2010s alongside the women's league, early editions featured just 4-6 teams but expanded to 12 by 2015. A highlight was 2019, when Biljana Inoks from Strumica stunned favorites Ljuboten 3-1 in the final, marking a provincial upset. COVID halted play in 2020, but 2021 saw record crowds. Skopje's ZF Našica 37 and ZF 2006 dominate the roll of honor with multiple wins.
Tournament format
The format starts with qualifying rounds for lower-tier sides, feeding into a single-elimination knockout from the round of 16. Early ties are one-legged at the lower seed's home; the final is neutral in Skopje. Up to 16 teams compete, with extra time and penalties if needed, adhering to UEFA women's rules.
Interesting facts
Matches average 3.2 goals, spiking over 4 in cup clashes due to attacking flair. Top scorer Maria Spiridonova (Našica 37) netted 25 across three campaigns. Standouts include Elena Nikolovska's dazzling dribbles for Biljana Inoks and Tamara Hristovska's 15 final goals. The cup has fed talents like Ljuboten captain Anna Petrova to the national team.