cupkilpailu

Cupkilpailu is a term used to describe a knockout-style competition found in various sports, where teams or individuals compete in successive rounds with the aim of advancing to a final and winning a trophy, typically a cup. The format emphasizes elimination rather than league table performance and is often organized alongside or separately from regular season play.

Typical features of a cupkilpailu include a draw to determine matchups, single-elimination rounds, and matches scheduled within a season though distinct from league fixtures. Most rounds are decided on the day, with extra time and penalties used if scores are level; some traditions also include replays in the early rounds or two-legged ties in certain rounds. The winner is awarded a cup trophy, which carries prestige and sometimes provides qualification opportunities to other competitions.

In Finland, cupkilpailu is used to describe national knockout tournaments across different sports, with football's Suomen Cup being the most prominent example. Similar formats are used in other sports and countries, reflecting a common preference for a separate pathway to silverware that can involve clubs from multiple levels and offer additional revenue, exposure, and competitive opportunities outside the regular league system.

The term highlights the central trophy at stake and the competitive, bracket-style progression of rounds. While the exact rules vary by sport and country, cupkilpailu generally represents a distinct, often high-stakes and spectator-friendly, format within the broader landscape of organized sport.