Moroccan Throne Cup

{{short description|Moroccan association football league}} {{infobox football tournament | name = Throne Cup | logo = Coupe du Trône logo.png | organiser = Royal Moroccan Football Federation | region = {{flagicon|MAR}} Morocco | founded = {{start date and age|1956}} | qualifier for = CAF Confederation Cup | current champions = Olympic Club Safi (1st title) | most successful club = AS FAR (12 titles) | broadcasters = | website = {{URL|http://www.frmf.ma|frmf.ma}} | current = 2024–25 Moroccan Throne Cup }}

The '''Throne Cup''' ({{Langx|ar|كأس العرش}}), also referred to as the '''Moroccan Throne Cup''' or '''Moroccan Cup''' is an annual knockout football competition in domestic Moroccan football. First played during the 1956–57 season, it is the oldest football competition in Morocco. organized by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

The Throne Cup was established in 1956, shortly after Morocco’s independence. It brings together clubs from across the Moroccan football league system and is contested in a knockout format, with teams progressing through successive elimination rounds until two sides meet in the final.

The competition was originally played as a single-match tournament. In certain periods, however, some rounds were conducted over two legs (home and away), reflecting structural adjustments made over time.

The winners of the Throne Cup qualify for the following season’s CAF Confederation Cup. If the cup winners have already secured qualification for the CAF Champions League through their league position, the Confederation Cup berth is reallocated in accordance with national and CAF regulations, often to the runner-up.

AS FAR is the most successful club in the competition, having won 12 titles. Olympic Club Safi is the most recent winner, having defeated RS Berkane in the 2025 final.

=== Before independence === National knockout competitions had already taken place prior to Morocco's independence in 1956, starting with '''CA Marocain's''' victory in the '''Coupe du Sultan''' in 1916. '''CA Casablanca''', '''Olympique Marocain''', '''USM Casablanca''', and '''US Fès''' were among the other early winners. The competition changed its name to the '''Coupe Coloniale du Maroc''' in the 1930s, when teams such as '''Majd Al-Madina''', '''SA Marrakech''', '''Racing Casablanca''', '''Maghreb SR''', and '''ASPTT Casablanca''' won championships. With five victories, '''USM Casablanca''' dominated this era. The 1956 final was never contested, and '''USD Meknès''' was the last known champion in 1952. Despite their history, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation does not formally recognise these competitions; instead, it views the 1956–1957 Coupe du Trône as the only national cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco - List of Cup Finals |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/marocuphist.html |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref>

=== After Independence: Birth of the Throne Cup === The '''Moroccan Throne Cup''', known in French as ''Coupe du Trône'', is the oldest official football cup competition in Morocco. It was first held in the '''1956–57 season''', shortly after Morocco gained independence, making it a symbolic tournament that reflects both national pride and footballing heritage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=SOUMANOU |first=Moucharaf |date=2024-06-20 |title=Maroc – Coupe du Trône : Historique, palmarès… tout savoir sur la compétition |url=https://africafootunited.com/maroc-coupe-du-trone-historique-palmares-tout-savoir-sur-la-competition/ |access-date=2025-06-23 |website=AfricaFootUnited |language=fr-FR}}</ref>

The competition has used a knockout format open to clubs from all tiers of the Moroccan football league system since its inception. This allows amateur and lower-division clubs to compete against top-tier teams, occasionally producing unexpected results known as "giant-killings."

The '''first-ever winner''' of the Throne Cup was MC Oujda, who also won the first two editions consecutively (1957, 1958), marking a strong early presence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco 1957/58 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/maro58.html |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=RSSSF}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco 1956/57 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/maro57.html |access-date=2022-03-16 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> Over time, however, AS FAR '''(the Royal Army team)''' became the tournament’s most successful club, winning the title a record '''12 times''', followed closely by Wydad AC and '''FAR’s traditional rivals Raja CA'''.

The final is typically played at neutral venues and is one of the most watched domestic matches in Moroccan football. Notable stadiums such as Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca and Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat have hosted many finals over the years.

In addition to the prestige, the winner of the Throne Cup earns '''qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup''', adding a continental dimension to the stakes. The cup also plays a vital role in giving exposure to young talents and smaller clubs, sometimes acting as a springboard for players’ careers.

The competition has survived through decades of Moroccan football evolution, political transitions, and club transformations, and continues to be a key highlight of the national football calendar. It represents not just sporting glory but also a deep connection between football and Moroccan national identity.

== Format == The current format features 4 preliminary rounds and the final phase. All games are one-legged.

The final phase starts with the Round of 32 where the 16 teams qualified from the fourth round are joined by all 16 Botola teams. Draws are "blind", meaning a Botola team can be drawn in one match with a team from the same league. The Round of 32 is followed by the Round of 16 matches, quarterfinals, semifinals and a final. Although not only one stadium has hosted the final, it is usually played in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

==Performance== {{See also|List of Moroccan Throne Cup finals}} === Performance by clubs === List of football clubs ranked by total wins and runners-up.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco - List of Cup Finals |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/marocuphist.html |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=RSSSF}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Club ! Winners ! Runner-up ! Winning years ! Runner-up years |- | AS FAR | align="center" | 12 | align="center" | 6 | 1959, 1971, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2020 | 1988, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2012, 2023 |- | Wydad AC | align="center" | 9 | align="center" | 7 | 1970, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001 | 1957, 1958, 1961, 1964, 2003, 2004, 2021 |- | Raja CA | align="center" | 9 | align="center" | 6 | 1974, 1977, 1982, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2023 | 1965, 1968, 1983, 1992, 2013, 2022 |- | FUS de Rabat | align="center" | 6 | align="center" | 3 | 1967, 1973, 1976, 1995, 2010, 2014 | 1960, 2009, 2015 |- | Kawkab Marrakesh | align="center" | 6 | align="center" | 2 | 1963, 1964, 1965, 1987, 1991, 1993 | 1962, 1997 |- | MAS Fès | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 8 | 1980, 1988, 2011, 2016 | 1966, 1971, 1974, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010 |- | Mouloudia Oujda | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 1 | 1957, 1958, 1960, 1962 | 1959 |- | Renaissance Berkane | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 3 | 2018, 2021, 2022 | 1987, 2014, 2024 |- | Olympique Casablanca | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | - | 1983, 1990, 1992 | |- | Olympique Khouribga | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 4 | 2006, 2015 | 1989, 1994, 1995, 2005 |- | Chabab Mohammédia | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 2 | 1972, 1975 | 1979, 1999 |- | Difaa El Jadida | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 4 | 2013 | 1977, 1985, 1986, 2017 |- | KAC Kenitra | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 3 | 1961 | 1969, 1976, 1991 |- | RS Settat | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 3 | 1969 | 1967, 1970, 2000 |- | CODM Meknès | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 2 | 1966 | 1981, 2011 |- | Racing Casablanca | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 1 | 1968 | 1972 |- | Olympic Safi | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 1 | 2024 | 2016 |- | Majd Casablanca | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | - | 2000 | |- | TAS Casablanca | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | - | 2019 | |- | Hassania Agadir | align="center" | - | align="center" | 3 | | 1963, 2006, 2019 |- | Renaissance Kenitra | align="center" | - | align="center" | 3 | | 1978, 1982, 1984 |- | Union Sidi Kacem | align="center" | - | align="center" | 2 | | 1975, 1980 |- | Ittihad Khemisset | align="center" | - | align="center" | 1 | | 1973 |- | Rachad Bernoussi | align="center" | - | align="center" | 1 | | 2007 |- | Wydad Fès | align="center" | - | align="center" | 1 | | 2018 |- | Moghreb Tétouan | align="center" | - | align="center" | 1 | | 2020 |}

=== By city === {| class="wikitable" |- ! City ! Championships ! Clubs |- | Casablanca |style="text-align: center;" | 24 | Wydad (9), Raja (9), Olympique de Casablanca (3), Racing de Casablanca (1), TAS de Casablanca (1), Majd Casablanca (1) |- | Rabat |style="text-align: center;" | 18 | AS FAR (12), FUS Rabat (6) |- | Marrakesh |style="text-align: center;" | 6 | Kawkab Marrakech (6) |- | Fez |style="text-align: center;" | 4 | Maghreb de Fès (4) |- | Oujda |style="text-align: center;" | 4 | MC Oujda (4) |- | Berkane |style="text-align: center;" | 3 | RS Berkane (3) |- | Khouribga |style="text-align: center;" | 2 | Olympique Club de Khouribga (2) |- | Mohammedia |style="text-align: center;" | 2 | SCC Mohammédia (2) |- | Settat |style="text-align: center;" | 1 | RS Settat (1) |- | El Jadida |style="text-align: center;" | 1 | Difaâ Hassani El Jadidi (1) |- | Kenitra |style="text-align: center;" | 1 | KAC Kénitra (1) |- | Meknes |style="text-align: center;" | 1 | COD Meknès (1) |- | Safi |style="text-align: center;" | 1 | OC Safi (1) |}

== Records == * '''Most titles won:''' 12 wins<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-11-18 |title=تعرف على قائمة الأندية المتوجة بكأس العرش منذ انطلاقتها |url=http://ar.sport.le360.ma/botola-pro-1/69702 |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=سبورت Le360 |language=ar}}</ref> ** ASFAR (''1959, 1971, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2020)'' * '''Most consecutive wins:''' 3 wins ** ASFAR ''(1984, 1985, 1986)'' and ''(2007, 2008, 2009)'' ** Kawkab Marrakech ''(1963, 1964 and 1965)'' * '''Most Finals played:''' 18 finals ** ASFAR * '''Most finals lost:''' 8 finals ** Maghreb Fes * '''Most consecutive finals losses:''' 2, joint record: ** Wydad AC (1956–57, 1957–58) (2002–03, 2003–04) ** Difaa El Jadida (1984–85, 1985–86) ** Olympique Khouribga (1993–94, 1994–95) ** MAS Fes (2000–01, 2001–02) * '''Most final appearances without ever winning:''' 3, joint record: ** Hassania Agadir (1962–63, 2005–06, 2018–19) ** Renaissance Kenitra (1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84) * '''Most final appearances without losing (streak):''' 3, joint record: ** Kawkab Marrakech (1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65) ** ASFAR (1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86) (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09) * '''Most final appearances without ever losing:''' 3 finals ** Olympique Casablanca (1982–83, 1989–90, 1991–92) *'''Longest gap between wins:''' 24 years, Wydad AC (2000–01–Present) *'''Biggest win in a final:''' 4 goals (Kawkab Marrakech 4–0 Renaissance Berkane, 1986–87)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://frmf.ma/fr/competitions/coupe-du-trone/%d8%aa%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%8a%d8%ae-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%85%d8%b4%d8%a7%d8%b1%d9%83%d8%a7%d8%aa/ FRMF Palmarès] *[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/marocuphist.html RSSSF competition history]

Category:Moroccan Throne Cup Throne Cup Throne Cup Morocco Category:1957 establishments in Morocco Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1957