What Is 2018-19 Coupe de la Ligue

Overview

The 2018–19 Coupe de la Ligue was the 25th and final season of France’s top-tier knockout football competition for professional clubs. Organized by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the tournament featured teams from Ligue 1 and Ligue 2, providing a midweek spectacle that ran parallel to the domestic league season.

Unlike the Coupe de France, which includes amateur and semi-professional clubs, the Coupe de la Ligue was exclusive to professional teams. The 2018–19 edition marked the end of a 25-year tradition, as the competition was officially discontinued after this season due to fixture congestion and financial concerns.

• 44 teams entered the competition, including all 20 Ligue 1 and 20 Ligue 2 clubs, plus four National league teams invited based on performance.
• The tournament began on August 14, 2018, with the first-round matches, primarily involving lower-division professional sides.
• RC Strasbourg claimed their third Coupe de la Ligue title by defeating En Avant Guingamp 4–0 in the final on March 30, 2019.
• The final was held at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, a venue traditionally used for major French football finals.
• This edition was the last in history, as the LFP announced the competition's permanent discontinuation in 2020 due to scheduling pressures.

How It Works

The Coupe de la Ligue operated as a single-elimination tournament, with each round consisting of one-off matches. If a game was tied after 90 minutes, it proceeded to extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

• Format: The competition used a knockout structure with seven rounds, starting from the first round and culminating in the final at Stade de France.
• Participation: All 40 professional clubs from Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 were automatically entered, with four additional teams from the third tier invited.
• Scheduling: Matches were played midweek, typically on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, to avoid conflict with weekend league fixtures.
• Seeding: There was no seeding in early rounds, meaning lower-division teams could face top-flight clubs from the outset.
• Prize money: The winner received approximately €1 million, while the runner-up earned around €500,000 in prize funds.
• European qualification: Unlike the Coupe de France, winning the Coupe de la Ligue did not grant a spot in any European competition.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the Coupe de la Ligue with other major French football competitions:

The Coupe de la Ligue stood out for its exclusivity to professional clubs and midweek scheduling, but lacked the prestige and rewards of the Coupe de France or Ligue 1. Its discontinuation allowed clubs to focus on league and continental commitments without midweek fatigue.

Why It Matters

The 2018–19 Coupe de la Ligue holds historical significance as the final chapter in a two-decade-long competition that offered smaller clubs a rare chance to defeat elite teams. Though overshadowed by other tournaments, it contributed to the rhythm of French football and provided memorable upsets.

• Historical closure: The 2018–19 season marked the end of an era, closing 25 years of professional cup football in France.
• Opportunity for underdogs: Lower-division clubs like Chambly and Belfort had rare chances to face giants such as PSG or Lyon.
• Fixture relief: Discontinuing the tournament helped reduce player burnout and scheduling conflicts in an already packed calendar.
• Financial reallocation: Broadcast and sponsorship funds were redirected to support Ligue 1’s international expansion.
• Legacy preservation: The LFP archived past winners and records, ensuring the competition’s history remains accessible.
• Impact on future tournaments: The decision influenced other leagues to reconsider domestic cup formats amid growing fixture congestion.

While the Coupe de la Ligue no longer exists, its final edition in 2018–19 remains a symbol of transition in modern football, reflecting broader trends toward streamlining competitions and prioritizing player welfare and commercial viability.