Cup Winners' Cup
 | |
| Region | Worldwide |
|---|---|
| Number of teams | 42 (entrants in CWC 72) |
| Current champions |  Herzegovina City FC (BNJ)(1st title) |
| Most successful club(s) |  Raynor City United (VAL)(8 titles) |
The IFCF Cup Winners' Cup, known as the Cygnus Cup up to its 48th edition, is an international football club competition contested by clubs that have won their national association or league cup. Each association may enter one club that won a national cup tournament, with the defending champions receiving an additional, automatic entry. Teams are not eligible to enter based on being winners of playoff tournaments that determine a league championship or super cups, where entry depends on winning other competitions. Clubs may compete in both the Cup Winners' Cup and other IFCF competitions for which they qualify, but the Cup Winners' Cup entry cannot be given to another club that did not win the national cup.
The tournament originated as a competition sponsored by Cygnus, a Krytenian telecoms company. The Cygnus Cup was independent of and not affiliated with UICA, and clubs could thus compete in both the Cygnus Cup and in UICA competitions if they qualified for both. The inaugural tournament, held in the same season as the 27th Champions' Cup, concluded with Vanorian side Ibini FC beating Sargossan team Alianza Jucaro 1–0 in the final held at Cygnus Stadium in Bromham, Krytenia. Raynor City United became the first team to retain the trophy by winning the 8th and 9th editions, and would become the tournament's most successful team winning a total of six titles. The Valladar Football Association later took over the administration of the tournament.
After the tournament's 48th edition, the tournament was temporarily suspended. With the founding of the IFCF, the competition was resumed within the IFCF infrastructure, although it remains formally indepdenent and administered by the football association of Valladares. The 50th Cup Winners' Cup final was held at Cygnus Stadium in Bromham, Krytenia to celebrate its origins. This should actually have been the 51st final, as one season was missed between the holding of the 48th and 49th editions (the latter being the first Cup Winners' Cup under the IFCF umbrella).
Format
The Cup Winners' Cup is a knockout competition. Each round consists of a home-and-away series decided by the aggregate score between the two teams (with extra time and a penalty shootout in case both teams tie on aggregate), with the final played as a single match at a venue selected prior to the start of the competition. Currently, the defending title-holders as well as the cup winners from the highest-ranked associations according to their coefficient ranking are seeded and given byes to the first round proper (which consists of 32 teams). The remaining teams are drawn to play preliminary rounds (depending on the number of entrants) to qualify for the first round.
Cup Winners' Cup finals
Records and statistics
Most successful clubs
| Club | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Raynor City United (VAL) |
8 | 3 |
 AC Izotz Zubia (AUD) |
3 | 1 |
 Mar Sara FC (VAL) |
3 | 2 |
 AS Bezieres (VLD) |
3 | 0 |
 Northern Union (BRE) |
2 | 1 |
 Jungle Strike FC (VIL) |
2 | 1 |
 Fontvielle Impact (VLD) |
2 | 1 |
 Spartangrad (EUR) |
2 | 1 |
 Montreal Koreana (QUE) |
2 | 1 |
 Metropolis Alligators (VLD) |
2 | 0 |
 Tanrısal (PAS) |
2 | 0 |
Most successful associations
| Association | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
 Valanora (VAL) |
14 | 6 |
 Valladares (VLD) |
10 | 3 |
 Eura (EUR) |
4 | 5 |
 Polar Islandstates (PIS) |
4 | 4 |
 Audioslavia (AUD) |
4 | 3 |
 Pasarga (PAS) |
4 | 2 |
 Capitalizt SLANI (COM) |
2 | 4 |
 Cosumar (COS) |
2 | 2 |
 Quebec and Shingoryeo (QUE) |
2 | 2 |
 Apox (APX) |
2 | 1 |
 Brenecia (BRE) |
2 | 1 |
 Iturributa (ITB) |
2 | 1 |
 Sorthern Northland (SNO) |
2 | 1 |
 Vilita (VIL) |
2 | 1 |
 Cafundéu (CAF) |
2 | 0 |
 Ko-oren (KOR) |
2 | 0 |