BFA Trophy

The Bedistan Football Association (BFA) Trophy is an annual football tournament in Bedistan, in which a number of professional clubs compete.

Format

The BFA Trophy is a one-legged, eight-round knockout competition in which 256 clubs that are not in the Fíbelige or higher participate. All clubs enter the competition in the first round. In each round through the fifth round, if the match ends in a draw, it is replayed at the home ground of the opposing team. The replay will go to extra time and/or a penalty shootout if necessary to resolve a draw. The aggregate score of the two matches is not used. The quarterfinals and semifinals, on the other hand, do use a two-legged aggregate format. Note that at the end of the second match, if aggregate scores are equal, extra time will be played. Away goals are not used as a tiebreaker. The final is always contested on neutral ground at Fillmore National Stadium in Sonoma City and consists of a single match.

The two finalists are rewarded with promotion into the Fíbelige, replacing the two lowest-finishing teams in that league.

Historic formats

Through 2094, 244 clubs from the Bedistan Football League Conference North and South and lower leagues participated in a twelve-round competition. 32 non-league teams went through the First and Second Qualifying Rounds, and the 8 winners of the Second Qualifying Round were admitted to the competition proper. In the First Round, they were joined by 56 clubs from the Third Divisions of the Western, Northern, Heartland, and Deep South Leagues. In the Third Round, 128 more clubs from the First and Second Divisions of those leagues joined. Finally, in the Fifth Round, the 28 members of the Bedistan Football League Conference North and South entered the competition. This brought the total number of Fifth Round participants to 64, who participated in a simple knockout for the remainder of the Cup.

Previous champions