2025–26 Bulgarian Cup

2025–26 Bulgarian Cup
Sesame Купа на България
Tournament details
CountryBulgaria
Teams47
Tournament statistics
Matches played39
Goals scored143 (3.67 per match)
Top goal scorer(s) Konstantin Pavlov
Juan Perea
Aykut Ramadan
(3 goals each)

All statistics correct as of 15 December 2025.

The 2025–26 Bulgarian Cup is the 44th official edition of the Bulgarian annual football knockout tournament. It is sponsored by Sesame and known as the Sesame Kupa na Bulgaria for sponsorship purposes.[1] The competition began on 11 October 2025 with the preliminary round and will finish with the final on 21 May 2026.[2] Ludogorets Razgrad are the defending cup winners. The winner qualifies for the first qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League.

Participating clubs

The following 47 teams qualified for the competition:[3]

2025–26 First League
16 clubs
2025–26 Second League
15 non-reserve clubs
Winners of 4 regional competitions
16 clubs

Arda
Beroe
Botev Plovdiv
Botev Vratsa
CSKA 1948
CSKA Sofia
Cherno More
Dobrudzha
Levski Sofia
Lokomotiv Plovdiv
Lokomotiv Sofia
Ludogorets Razgrad
Montana
Septemvri Sofia
Slavia Sofia
Spartak Varna

Belasitsa
Chernomorets Burgas
Dunav Ruse
Etar
Fratria Varna
Hebar
Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa
Marek
Minyor Pernik
Pirin Blagoevgrad
Sevlievo
Spartak Pleven
Sportist Svoge
Vihren
Yantra

from North-East zone:

from North-West zone:

from South-West zone:

from South-East zone:

Preliminary round

The draw was conducted on 26 September 2025.[4] In this stage, the participants are 15 winners from the regional amateur competitions and 15 non-reserve teams from the Second League. The games were played on 11 and 12 October 2025.[5]

Zagorets received a bye to the Round of 32.[5]

11 October 2025 (2025-10-11) Rilski Sportist (III) 2–1Belasitsa (II)Samokov
15:00 UTC+3
  • Panchev 74'
  • Dokovski 87'
Report Stadium: Stadion Iskar
Referee: Antonio Antov (Kyustendil)
11 October 2025 (2025-10-11) Yambol (III) 2–1Vihren (II)Straldzha[note 1]
15:00 UTC+3
  • Bozev 24'
  • Prindzhev 57'
Report Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Stefan Gurkov (Sliven)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Metalurg Pernik (IV)1–8 Hebar (II) Pernik
15:00 UTC+3
  • Mitkov 44'
Report
Stadium: Stadion Metalurg
Referee: Murad Adem (Sofia)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Germanea (III)0–4 Fratria Varna (II) Sapareva Banya
15:00 UTC+3 Report
  • Brikner 64'
  • Druiventak 78', 85'
  • Manolkov 88'
Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Ivo Ivanov (Sofia)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Benkovski Isperih (III)0–4 Dunav Ruse (II) Isperih
15:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Krasimir Krastev (Shumen)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Septemvri Tervel (III)0–3 Marek (II) Tervel
15:00 UTC+3 Report
  • Yordanov 35'
  • Dzhadzharov 45+2', 56'
Stadium: Stadion Septemvri
Referee: Kristiyan Todorov (Varna)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Vitosha Bistritsa (III) 2–1Lokomotiv Gorna Oryahovitsa (II)Bistritsa
15:00 UTC+3
  • Sarafski 87', 90+4'
Report
  • Kolev 90+6'
Stadium: Stadion Bistritsa
Referee: Lyubomir Vushovski (Sofia)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Haskovo (III)0–4 Spartak Pleven (II) Haskovo
15:00 UTC+3 Report
  • Velkov 35'
  • Trifonov 57'
  • Tairov 85'
  • Antonov 90+3'
Stadium: Stadion Haskovo
Referee: Petar Asparuhov (Burgas)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Botev Novi Pazar (III)1–4 (a.e.t.) Sportist Svoge (II) Kaspichan[note 2]
15:00 UTC+3
  • Shyukryu 79'
Report
  • Monteiro 83'
  • Gelin 103'
  • Ivanov 110'
  • Pinheiro 119'
Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Boris Popov (Ruse)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Lovech (III)0–5 Chernomorets Burgas (II) Lovech
15:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Petar Dimitrov (Sofia)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Kom (III)0–1 (a.e.t.) Yantra (II) Berkovitsa
15:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Stadion Mramor
Referee: Vladimir Kirilov (Pleven)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Partizan Cherven Bryag (III)0–2 Minyor Pernik (II) Cherven Bryag
15:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Bozhidar Todorov (Sofia)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Chernolomets Popovo (III)2–4 (a.e.t.) Sevlievo (II) Popovo
15:00 UTC+3
  • Remzi 40'
  • Georgiev 62'
Report
  • Makaveev 50' (pen.), 94'
  • Ganev 53'
  • Kolev 109'
Stadium: Stadion Stamo Kostov
Referee: Stanimir Todorov (Gabrovo)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Bdin Vidin (III) 2–1Etar (II)Vidin
15:00 UTC+3
  • João Stocco 38'
  • Zahariev 59'
Report
  • Ivanchov 75' (o.g.)
Stadium: Stadion Georgi Benkovski
Referee: Hristofor Petkov (Lovech)
12 October 2025 (2025-10-12) Spartak Plovdiv (III) 2–1Pirin Blagoevgrad (II)Plovdiv
15:00 UTC+3 Bakalov 83', 85' Report Vangelov 45+2' Stadium: Stadion Todor Diev
Referee: Stanislav Apostolov (Pazardzhik)

Round of 32

The draw for this stage was conducted on 26 September 2025.[4] The participants are the 16 preliminary round winners and the 16 First League teams. The games will be played between 28 October and 30 October 2025.[6]

28 October 2025 (2025-10-28) Spartak Pleven (II)0–4 Botev Plovdiv (I) Pleven
12:45 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stadion Pleven
Referee: Mihael Pavlov (Veliko Tarnovo)
28 October 2025 (2025-10-28) Bdin Vidin (III)2–7 Dobrudzha (I) Vidin
13:30 UTC+2
  • Zahariev 27'
  • João Stocco 88'
Report
Stadium: Stadion Georgi Benkovski
Referee: Ivaylo Nenkov (Sofia)
28 October 2025 (2025-10-28) Rilski Sportist (III)2–3 Lokomotiv Sofia (I) Samokov
13:30 UTC+2
Report
  • Dembélé 30'
  • Galchev 66'
  • Cauê Caruso 90'
Stadium: Stadion Iskar
Referee: Ventsislav Mitrev (Sofia)
28 October 2025 (2025-10-28) Yambol (III)1–3 Spartak Varna (I) Yambol
13:30 UTC+2
Report
  • Pahama 8'
  • Halachev 18'
  • Aleksiev 55'
Stadium: Stadion Tundzha
Referee: Stanimir Todorov (Gabrovo)
28 October 2025 (2025-10-28) Fratria Varna (II)1–2 Arda (I) Varna
15:45 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Stadion Spartak
Referee: Denislav Stalev (Plovdiv)
28 October 2025 (2025-10-28) Dunav Ruse (II)1–2 (a.e.t.) Lokomotiv Plovdiv (I) Ruse
18:45 UTC+2 Report
  • Itu 90+7'
  • Perea 115'
Stadium: Gradski stadion
Referee: Stoyan Arsov (Sofia)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Minyor Pernik (II)0–3 Cherno More (I) Pernik
12:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stadion Minyor
Referee: Martin Markov (Sofia)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Marek (II)1–4 Montana (I) Dupnitsa
13:30 UTC+2
Report
  • Vitinho 59'
  • Dimitrov 62', 72'
  • Tsekov 75'
Stadium: Stadion Bonchuk
Referee: Volen Chinkov (Sofia)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Spartak Plovdiv (III)1–2 Slavia Sofia (I) Plovdiv
13:30 UTC+2
  • Dimov 35'
Report
Stadium: Stadion Todor Diev
Referee: Dragomir Draganov (Varna)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Sportist Svoge (II)0–2 Septemvri Sofia (I) Svoge
13:30 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Stadion Chavdar Tsvetkov
Referee: Gero Piskov (Sofia)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Sevlievo (II)1–2 CSKA Sofia (I) Sevlievo
13:30 UTC+2
  • Petrov 66'
Report
Stadium: Stadion Rakovski
Referee: Stanimir Trenchev (Sofia)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Vitosha Bistritsa (III) 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Beroe (I)Bistritsa
13:30 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Stadion Bistritsa
Referee: Antonio Antov (Kyustendil)
Penalties
  • Spasov
  • Charlov
  • Yanakiev
  • Petrov
  • Bakalov
  • Salomoni
  • Alarcón
  • Caio Lopes
  • Pineda
  • Costantini
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Zagorets (III)1–4 Botev Vratsa (I) Nova Zagora
13:30 UTC+2
  • Stoilov 47'
Report
Stadium: Stadion Zagorets
Referee: Kristiyan Todorov (Varna)
29 October 2025 (2025-10-29) Hebar (II)0–3 Levski Sofia (I) Pazardzhik
16:30 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stadion Georgi Benkovski
Referee: Lyuboslav Lyubomirov (Pernik)
30 October 2025 (2025-10-30) Chernomorets Burgas (II)2–3 Ludogorets Razgrad (I) Nesebar[note 3]
13:30 UTC+2
  • Staykov 8'
  • Dramé 90+1'
Report
Stadium: Stadion Nesebar
Referee: Krasen Georgiev (Varna)
30 October 2025 (2025-10-30) Yantra (II)0–4 CSKA 1948 (I) Gabrovo
16:30 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stadion Hristo Botev
Referee: Vasil Minev (Sofia)

Round of 16

The draw for this stage was conducted on 5 November 2025.[7] The participants are the 16 Round of 32 winners. The games will be played between 11 and 15 December 2025.[8]

11 December 2025 Levski Sofia (I) 3–0Vitosha Bistritsa (III)Sofia
17:30 UTC+2
Report Stadium: Stadion Georgi Asparuhov
Referee: Kristiyan Kolev (Plovdiv)
12 December 2025 Cherno More (I)0–3 Arda (I) Varna
17:30 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Stadion Ticha
Referee: Georgi Davidov (Veliko Tarnovo)
13 December 2025 Slavia Sofia (I)2–3 (a.e.t.) CSKA 1948 (I) Sofia
12:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Stadion Aleksandar Shalamanov
Referee: Martin Velikov (Varna)
13 December 2025 Spartak Varna (I)0–2 Botev Plovdiv (I) Varna
15:00 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stadion Spartak
Referee: Vasil Minev (Sofia)
13 December 2025 CSKA Sofia (I) 2–1Lokomotiv Sofia (I)Sofia
18:00 UTC+2
Report
Stadium: Natsionalen stadion Vasil Levski[note 4]
Referee: Mariyan Grebencharski (Sofia)
14 December 2025 Dobrudzha (I)0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Botev Vratsa (I) Dobrich
13:00 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Stadion Druzhba
Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Plovdiv)
Penalties
14 December 2025 Lokomotiv Plovdiv (I) 4–0Montana (I)Plovdiv
16:00 UTC+2
  • Perea 26', 34'
  • Ali 40'
  • Itu 59'
Report Stadium: Stadion Lokomotiv
Referee: Todor Kirov (Varna)
15 December 2025 Septemvri Sofia (I)1–3 Ludogorets Razgrad (I) Sofia
17:30 UTC+2 Report
Stadium: Stadion Lokomotiv[note 5]
Referee: Dimitar Dimitrov (Sofia)

Quarter-finals

The draw was conducted on 18 December 2025.[9] In this stage the participants are the 8 winners from the previous round. The games will be played between 10 and 12 February 2026.

10−12 February 2026 Botev Vratsa v Arda Vratsa
--:-- UTC+2 Stadium: Stadion Hristo Botev

Notes

  1. ^ Yambol played their preliminary round home match at Gradski stadion, Straldzha, instead of their regular stadium, Stadion Tundzha in Yambol.
  2. ^ Botev Novi Pazar played their preliminary round home match at Gradski stadion, Kaspichan, instead of their regular stadium, Gradski stadion in Novi Pazar.
  3. ^ Chernomorets Burgas played their Round of 32 home match at Stadion Nesebar, Nesebar, instead of their regular stadium, Stadion Ivan Pritargov in Burgas.
  4. ^ a b CSKA Sofia play their home matches at Natsionalen stadion Vasil Levski, Sofia, instead of their regular stadium, Stadion Balgarska Armia, Sofia, which is undergoing a major reconstruction.
  5. ^ Septemvri Sofia play their home matches at Stadion Lokomotiv, Sofia, instead of their regular stadium, Stadion Dragalevtsi, Sofia, which does not meet BFU requirements.

References

  1. ^ "Купата на България има нов генерален спонсор, турнирът сменя името си" (in Bulgarian). gong.bg. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Календар сезон 2025/2026" (PDF) (in Bulgarian). Bulgarian Football Union. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ "Bulgarian Cup 2025–26 - Final Phase". bulgarian-football.com. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Жребият за Купата: Левски може би срещу Николай Митов, ЦСКА чака развръзка в Попово". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Решение СТК 02.10.2025 г." bfunion.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Решение СТК 13.10.2025 г." bfunion.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  7. ^ "Левски с огромен късмет за Sesame Купа на България, столично дерби за ЦСКА". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Решение СТК 13.11.2025 г." bfunion.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Жестоки мачове за 1/4-финалите на Sesame Купа България". dsport.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 18 December 2025.