Following the conclusion of the 2024/25 Serie A season, the final standings have been officially confirmed, setting the stage for the 2025/26 Coppa Italia draw. The format, as verified by Lega Serie A, remains consistent with the structure used over the past three years, featuring no changes to the number of participating clubs or the tournament`s overall setup.
Participating Teams
A total of 44 teams are set to compete in the upcoming edition, divided as follows:
- 20 teams from Serie A
- 20 teams from Serie B
- 4 teams nominated by Lega Pro (Serie C)
Tournament Format and Draw
The competition utilizes a seeded knockout bracket, numbered from 1 to 44. Teams will enter the tournament at three distinct points:
- 8 teams will begin in the preliminary round.
- 28 teams will enter in the Round of 64 (Trentaduesimi di finale).
- 8 top-seeded teams will receive a bye directly to the Round of 16 (Ottavi di finale).
Top Seeded Teams
The eight top seeds, determined based on their sporting ranking from the previous season, are:
- Bologna (as the reigning Coppa Italia champion)
- Napoli
- Inter
- Atalanta
- Juventus
- Roma
- Fiorentina
- Lazio
Preliminary Rounds and Serie C Teams
The preliminary round includes teams such as Padova, Virtus Entella, and Avellino (the three Serie C group winners), the Coppa Italia Serie C winner (Rimini), the fourth promoted team, and three second-placed teams, determined according to the regulations and the results of the ongoing Serie C playoffs.
Possible Matchups
AC Milan, not included among the top seeds, will start their journey in the Round of 64, hosting Bari at San Siro. Should they advance, they would then face the winner of the match between Lecce and Juve Stabia, also at the Meazza stadium. In the Round of 16, the Rossoneri could potentially meet Lazio, and subsequently, Bologna in the quarterfinals.
Potential Round of 16 Matches:
Left Side:
- Bologna vs Parma
- Lazio vs Milan
- Juventus vs Udinese
- Atalanta vs Genoa
Right Side:
- Inter vs Verona
- Roma vs Torino
- Fiorentina vs Como
- Napoli vs Cagliari
Potential Quarter-Final Matches:
Left Side:
- Winner of Bologna/Parma vs Winner of Lazio/Milan
- Winner of Juventus/Udinese vs Winner of Atalanta/Genoa
Right Side:
- Winner of Inter/Verona vs Winner of Roma/Torino
- Winner of Fiorentina/Como vs Winner of Napoli/Cagliari
The 2025/26 Coppa Italia promises to be an captivating tournament, with significant clashes possible from the early stages and a bracket structure that sets the stage for exciting football. The complete lineup will be finalized once the remaining results from Serie B and Serie C are confirmed.