After the opening salvos in Season 51, the second round brings the big four cup competitions — Brazil, Romania, Slovenia and Turkey — back into focus, while a whole group of major Dugout nations quietly join the party with their preliminary rounds.
In Algeria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland and Venezuela, the cup calendars officially open today, but with no high level ties in these early stages the spotlight naturally shifts elsewhere. In the four of the biggest nations, the calendar already offers a dense programme of competitive fixtures and potential storylines — the path towards another memorable cup campaign is starting to take form.
The Cupa României enters Round 2 with holders F.C.PRETOR watching closely after last season’s 2–0 final win over FC Bistrita – Severin. Their immediate future lies in later rounds, but a number of clubs hoping to challenge them are on show today.
In the second tier, Divizia B1 serves up a pure promotion-level encounter as Fulgerul Sf.Ilie host fellow Divizia B1 side Apulum. It’s one of the few ties where both teams already operate near the top of the national pyramid, and the winner can rightly start to think about a serious cup run.
The standout test for the elite comes when Giunamea Armaneasca of Divizia A travel to DINAMO BUC from Divizia C. The top-flight visitors carry the pressure of expectation; their hosts have the freedom of a lower-league side with everything to gain.
Across Divizia C and Divizia D, the draw has produced a string of balanced pairings and classic giant-killer opportunities.
Matches like fcucv vs. FC KRUGER, DrekThoria Steel vs. Luceafarul Oradea, Los Diablos vs. F.C.M. BRASOV and coltsiasi vs. F.C. Petrolul Ploiesti are tight Divizia C duels that could hinge on small details.
Lower down, Rolandio and FC ABT of Divizia D both host Divizia C opposition (RIVER. and Steaua United), exactly the sort of fixtures where early upsets often occur.
There are also true “cup-story” pairings: Cereal Killers of Divizia D welcoming FC Dinamo București. from Divizia B1, fc real madrid ♢ of Divizia B2 hosting Divizia D side Politehnica Timisoara, and a rare Divizia E showdown between FC U United and RAPID IASI. Meanwhile, ties like Ripensia Femina vs. U CRAIOVA, Leontina vs. 22 LDE, Dunărea Galati vs. Red Star United and Mănăștur Cartel FC vs. Avantul Buzau ensure the lower leagues are fully represented.
Round 2 doesn’t yet decide the trophy, but it does decide who earns the right to dream alongside F.C.PRETOR in the business end of the competition.
A new season of the Serbian Cup is about to begin, and before the regular first round, we have the preliminary stage featuring four matches. This round traditionally serves as a filter – it gives lower-division teams a chance to prove themselves, find their rhythm, and earn a place among the best.
The Cup always brings surprises, and it’s often in these opening duels that we witness the biggest shocks. Teams enter fully motivated, knowing that a win means advancing to the main draw, where Superliga clubs and the real trophy hunt await.
After this preliminary phase, the regular first round begins – the true competition, full of uncertainty, surprises, and the trademark tension that makes the Cup so special.
We’re ready for the start of another thrilling Cup adventure.
Sporting regards!
Poštovani ljubitelji fudbala,
Počinje nova sezona Kupa Srbije, a pre regularnog prvog kola pred nama je preliminarna runda u kojoj će se odigrati četiri meča. Ova runda tradicionalno služi kao filter – daje šansu timovima iz nižeg ranga da se dokažu, uhvate ritam i izbore svoje mesto među najboljima.
Kup uvek donosi iznenađenja, a baš u ovim uvodnim duelima neretko vidimo najveće šokove. Timovi ulaze maksimalno motivisani, jer pobeda znači ulazak u glavni žreb gde ih čekaju Superligaši i ozbiljna borba za trofej.
Posle ove preliminarne faze počinje regularno prvo kolo, gde kreće pravo takmičenje, puno neizvesnosti, iznenađenja i tradicionalno napete atmosfere koja Kup čini posebnim.
Spremamo se za početak jedne nove, neizvesne kup-avanture.
The Turkish National Cup continues with Tortuga defending the title they claimed last season after a penalty shoot-out against Tortuga (0–0 after 120 minutes, 4–1 on penalties). Their run through kuyucak gençlerbirliği, sensiz_olmuyor and Çankırıspor cemented their cup reputation; now the rest of Turkey is looking for a way to dethrone them.
The central tie of this round is a pure TFF 2. Lig showdown as KOCAELISPOR meet FENERBAHÇE SKOR KULÜBÜ, both from the Kırmızı Grup. It’s a meeting of serious promotion and cup contenders, and the winner will emerge with both confidence and momentum for the weeks ahead.
The TFF Süper Lig presence adds real weight to the schedule.
Elazığspor travel to Crystal Palace from TFF 3. Lig, a classic top-tier away day where the visitors are favourites but far from safe.
Sarıgöl Gençlerbirliği make a similar journey to Erzurumspor, also from TFF 3. Lig, another scenario where a concentrated ninety minutes will be required to avoid surprises.
Balkesspor, likewise from the TFF Süper Lig, visit Pespor of TFF 4. Lig Ulusal Amatör Küme, on paper the biggest gap of the round and a huge occasion for the home side.
Ambitious clubs from TFF 2. Lig Beyaz Grup and TFF 3. Lig are scattered across the draw. Galatasaray FK take on ERBABA, while Mahtandoz FK face MANİSA1965, both ties that will test how well the second tier handles knockout pressure. Meanwhile, the all–third-tier contests — zenjense idman yurdu vs. M.K.C_28_SPOR, BLACK LİON vs. Katırcı Futbol Kulübü, Kocaelispor vs. incomparable king, Sports Academy vs. Atmaca SK, and Masterclass SC vs. HASAN FC — are pure cup battles, where league labels matter less than preparation and in-game decisions.
At the other end of the pyramid, Marmarisspor from TFF 5. Lig Bölgesel Amatör Küme host Samsunspor of TFF 3. Lig. It’s a reminder that the Turkish cup stretches to the very edges of the national structure, giving even regional sides a shot at national relevance.
Round 2 might not yet feature Tortuga at full intensity, but it already carries real jeopardy for several big names — and offers a platform for new challengers to announce themselves in one of Dugout’s most unpredictable tournaments.
While two of the bigger Croatian clubs start in the preliminary round, their opponents are exceedingly easy — but we do expect a more competitive second round.
In Slovenia, Grosuplje Dreamteam still hold the Slovenski Državni Pokal after last season’s 1–0 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the final. Their path through AS Radgona and Manchester City confirmed their status as one of the dominant forces in Prva SNL, but this year’s early rounds suggest there may be new threats emerging from below.
One of the headline ties sees FC P10NiR from Druga SNL Zahod host top-flight Inter Miami CF of Prva SNL. The second-tier side have nothing to lose against one of the league’s marquee names, and this is exactly the kind of fixture where a strong tactical plan and home momentum can tilt the balance.
Elsewhere, the second division is heavily involved.
In Druga SNL Zahod, Santos-Futebol Clube take on Nogometni Klub Goreljce from Tretja SNL, while FC Lesinari of Prva regionalna Liga welcome NIKI-Moste from Druga SNL Vzhod, giving both second-tier clubs potentially awkward away assignments.
FC Scary Gorca of Druga SNL Vzhod host Podivjani polžje from Prva regionalna Liga, with the favourites expected to assert their status but fully aware that regional-league opponents are rarely passive in the cup.
The Tretja SNL bracket looks particularly competitive this round. Fixtures such as Slovenska Bistrica vs. FC Fer-montaža, NK Gasilček vs. Manchester United F.C., fc david vs. LogosEstLux, voldemort vs. You Will Never Walk Alone and NK Drevenišče vs. Juventus Slovenija pit ambitious third-tier clubs directly against each other, with the winners likely to be the ones to watch when higher divisions enter in earnest.
Deeper in the pyramid, the cup retains its traditional character:
Madrilenos vs. NK Šminkeri, Big Deal FC vs. Lajše Lukavi Leteči Lignji, NŠ Tičev Dol vs. Nogometna šola Mura, St Patrick's Athletic FC vs. ★ NK IHAN ★, Meteor Melinci vs. NK Most, NK Vrhnika vs. Seoski AllStar Team, Ogromni dinozavri vs. ŠD LATKOVA VAS, Teater F.C. vs. Christchurch Rangers and NŠ Delavcev vs. Trojans United all showcase clubs from Prva regionalna Liga and Drugaa regionalna Liga fighting for rare national spotlight.
With the defending champions yet to hit the more dangerous stages of their route, Round 2 serves as a broad audition for those who want to join Grosuplje Dreamteam and Borussia Dortmund among the competition’s regular headline makers.
Rookies F.C are the only LIGUE 1 club starting in the preliminary round. They won the Coupe de France twice already, no doubt, going for the third this season.
The Swiss National Cup starts today. But, since all the top teams (including the Cup champions, Fc Black Panther) start in the second round, there Isn't much to report today.
Only one true upset deserves mention from the preliminary round of the Copa do Brasil. Most matches went exactly as expected — teams like FN United, Rosário, Rato da Gama, and Cajueiro handled their less traditional opponents with relative ease.
The exception, of course, was Balta. More focused on the Admin Market than on actually playing matches, the cup specialist who never wins in Cups fielded a reserve squad and somehow managed to get knocked out by the mysterious Furia — triggering a new wave of speculation in the underbelly of Brazilian Dugout. Who is Balta’s new executioner? The question hangs in the air.
With that out of the way, the preview for the second round becomes much more interesting: more than 20 active-vs-active clashes await us this Tuesday (18).
The most anticipated match of the round may well be a now-traditional C8 duel: Sobradinho (formerly Só 10 Minutos) vs. Quebra Perna. Longtime rivals, they’ve met eight times — all in C8 — with Bruno2sp’s side holding a clear edge: five wins for Sobradinho, against only two for Léo Bertuol’s team. Will history weigh in tomorrow? Or is the Cup engine an entirely different beast?
Another intra-divisional rivalry being renewed on Tuesday is Mykonos Grecco vs. Flamengo United. Vitor Alves, from Fla United, is one of the most underrated managers in Brazil, having reached B1 with a modest squad. Relegated to C4, he went toe-to-toe with Mykonos in several quality matchups. The rivalry looked dead — the Greeks earned promotion in T50 — but the draw brought them back together. Fla United holds the edge: four wins in six games.
Real Madruga was once one of Brazil’s most promising sides, a candidate for rapid ascension through the lower leagues, but it got stuck in the C7 bottleneck and made the controversial decision to “farm rating” in Division D. Now, their season is on the line right from the start as they face perennial contender Bnetto.
Pois Pronto and K-maradas are veterans who’ve lately carried a sort of supporting-actor syndrome. Both play for their lives in Round 2. Gigante Vasco Brasília, after many seasons in D, finally secured promotion and now competes in C2 — carrying one of the highest ratings in the country. By irony of fate, Gonçalense was one of their earliest rivals back in Série E, and one of the reasons Gigante spent so long trapped in the fourth tier. Now, they meet again in the Copa do Brasil.
Making their debut in Série C, Divina Juventude (formerly Mancha) will have the chance to make noise against a community heavyweight: Made in Hell (formerly Furacão). Another highlighted matchup brings two semi-dinosaurs together: FN United faces another active, this time against Athletico Paranaense. A match full of history — though perhaps with little present-day relevance.
And speaking of relevance, time to talk future: four newcomers, including two of the most promising managers in this new wave, will have a chance to shock the Dugout world. 9999 Golds, proudly calling itself the most Romanian team in Brazil, visits the millionaire EC Sírio. Petiloca will be introduced to Xurumela at the Brinco de Ouro da Mamãe. Clube Atlético Gaúcho will get to know Mario Navarrete Stadium and Candalismo, while the anonymous Roda has the toughest task of all: hosting the GOAT Piraloku at the famed Rodão.
