Founded | 1958 |
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Region | Chile |
Number of teams | 31 |
Current champions | Colo-Colo |
Website | ANFP Copa Chile |
2016 Copa Chile |
The Copa Chile (Chile Cup) is an annual cup competition for Chilean football teams. Due to time constraints and club pressure, the trophy was cancelled in 2000, but returned in 2008. Its precursor was the Campeonato de Apertura (Opening Championship), played from 1933 to 1950.
The cup is now open to every member club of the Chilean football league system, from professional teams; (Primera División and Primera B), down to teams from the ANFA; Tercera A and Tercera B, as well as Regional Amateur champions teams from around the country. And since the season 2009, the winners obtains a direct Copa Sudamericana spot for the next season.
In the history of the tournament, the Primera División teams have dominated the competition; but, because this is contested in a knockout tournament format, the opportunity for lower level teams upsetting a top level squad is a real possibility. That was the case in the seasons 1960, 1962, 2009 & 2010, when the winners were clubs from the second level: La Serena, Luis Cruz, Unión San Felipe and Municipal Iquique. A major upset almost occurred in the 2008 competition, when Deportes Ovalle (from the third level league) became finalist, losing 1-2 to Universidad de Concepción at the final, in a very close match.