Challengers Cup
| Region | Worldwide |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 134 (entrants in IFCC 2) |
| Current champions | |
| Most championships | 11 clubs with 1 title each |
The Challengers Cup is an international football club competition organized by the IFCF involving the three highest-placed teams from each association which did not qualify for the Champions League. Teams that are eliminated from the Champions League prior to its knockout phase also enter the Challengers Cup at the subsequent round.
The competition was conceived as a successor to the UICA Globe Cup. The inaugural Challengers Cup, in the season that would have seen the 72nd Globe Cup, saw Malabon SC become the first Fleftic club to win a major international club title as they beat Port Sebastian 1–0 at Macquarie Docklands in Latrobe.
After the qualifying phase, 48 teams contest the group stage. Divided into groups of four, they play a home-and-away round robin with the top two teams of each group advancing to the first knockout round of 32 teams, where they are joined by teams finishing third in the group stage of the Champions League. Knockout rounds are contested in two-legged ties, with each team playing one match at home. The final is a single match played at a venue selected each season at the start of the tournament.
With two of its clubs having won the Challengers Cup, the Squornshelan Remnant States is the most successful national association in this tournament.
Challengers Cup finals
| Edition | Winners | Score | Runners-up | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malabon SC (AFT) |
1–0 | Port Sebastian (SCT) |
Macquarie Docklands Latrobe, Kelssek |
| 2 | AC Izotz Zubia (AUD) |
2–1 | Shamrock Cathair (AUD) |
Estadio Zachary Fortin Metropolis, Valladares |
| 3 | Arlington City (ZWZ) |
3–0 | Kionao Locals (TUR) |
Franz-Gorz-Stadion Stelburg, Siovanija and Teusland |
| 4 | Megabrantid SC (SRS) |
1–0 | FC Teussen Stelburg (STL) |
Elliot Family Stadium Marietta, Xanneria |
| 5 | Spartangrad (EUR) |
1–0 | Freeport United (FPT) |
Alain Tramontin Stadium Eterna City, Valladares |
| 6 | FC Yassaca (SRS) |
3–0 | Latrobe Athletic (KSK) |
Estadio Nacional Navel Island, Whirl Islands |
| 7 | CA Paulinthal (PAS) |
3–2 aet | Herzegovina City FC (BNJ) |
Stadium of the Moon Lunas, Pasarga |
| 8 | Mâ Âlâmëómë (FFD) |
1–0 | Wirr Tsi (CMT) |
Capitalizt Dome Chromia, Chromatika |
| 9 | Raynor City United (VAL) |
3–1 | Spartangrad (EUR) |
Old City Stadium Iturributa, Astograth |
| 10 | Wirr Tsi (CMT) |
2–0 | KT Itzalovalle (AUD) |
Mountain Fortress Oriannor, Tikariot |
| 11 | Straudum VV (KOR) |
2–1 | Atletik (MYT) |
Burdina Jauregia Ferramendiak, Audioslavia |
Records and statistics
Clubs
| IFCF only | UICA included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Champion | Runner-up | Champion | Runner-up | Third place |
| 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
- Globe Cup and Challengers Cup combined
| Club | Titles | Editions | Second | Editions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | GC: 46, 51, 61, 63 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 21, 26 | 1 | GC: 30 | |
| 2 | GC: 5, 16 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 15, 19 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 2, 10 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 32, 68 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 43, 44 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 56, 70 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 22, 55 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 23, 35 | 0 | ||
| 2 | GC: 40, 66 | 0 |
Associations
| IFCF only | UICA included | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Champion | Runner-up | Champion | Runner-up | Third place |
| 1 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 5 | |
| 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 6 | |
| 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |
| 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
| File:Flag of None.svg LAPFL Federation (LLF) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| File:Flag of None.svg Virçais (VRC) | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |