View source for Challengers Cup

{{Infobox football league
| name                 = IFCF Challengers Cup
| logo                 = [[File:IFCF Challengers Cup logo.png|center|150px]]
| region               = Worldwide
| teams                = 134 <small>(entrants in IFCC 2)</small>
| champions            = {{UICAclublt|Lakewood United|TMB}} (1st title)
| most successful club = {{UICAclublt|Arlington City|ZWZ}}<br>{{UICAclublt|Wirr Tsi|CMT}} (2 titles each)
}}
The '''Challengers Cup''' is an international football club competition organized by the [[IFCF]] involving the three highest-placed teams from each association which did not qualify for the [[Champions League]]. Teams that are eliminated from the Champions League prior to its knockout phase also enter the Challengers Cup at the subsequent round. 

The competition was conceived as a successor to the [[UICA]] [[Globe Cup]]. The inaugural Challengers Cup, in the season that would have seen the 72nd Globe Cup, saw Malabon SC become the first [[Abanhfleft|Fleftic]] club to win a major international club title as they beat Port Sebastian 1–0 at [[Macquarie Docklands]] in [[Latrobe]].

After the qualifying phase, 48 teams contest the group stage. Divided into groups of four, they play a home-and-away round robin with the top two teams of each group advancing to the first knockout round of 32 teams, where they are joined by teams finishing third in the group stage of the Champions League. Knockout rounds are contested in two-legged ties, with each team playing one match at home. The final is a single match played at a venue selected each season at the start of the tournament.

With their clubs having won two Challengers Cups each, the [[Squornshelan Remnant States]] and [[Chromatika]] are the most successful national associations in this tournament.

==Challengers Cup finals==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; clear: both"
! Edition
! style="width: 15em" | Winners
! style="width: 5em" | Score
! style="width: 15em" | Runners-up
! Venue
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 1|1]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Malabon SC|AFT}}
| {{UICAscore|1–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Port Sebastian|SCT}}
| align="left" | [[Macquarie Docklands]]<br/>[[Latrobe]], [[Kelssek]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 2|2]]
| {{UICAclub2t|AC Izotz Zubia|AUD}}
| {{UICAscore|2–1}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Shamrock Cathair|AUD}}
| align="left" | [[Estadio Zachary Fortin]]<br/>[[Metropolis]], [[Valladares]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 3|3]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Arlington City|ZWZ}}
| {{UICAscore|3–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Kionao Locals|TUR}}
| align="left" | [[Franz-Gorz-Stadion]]<br/>[[Stelburg]], [[Siovanija and Teusland]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 4|4]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Megabrantid SC|SRS}}
| {{UICAscore|1–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|FC Teussen Stelburg|STL}}
| align="left" | [[Elliot Family Stadium]]<br>[[Marietta]], [[Xanneria]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 5|5]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Spartangrad|EUR}}
| {{UICAscore|1–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Freeport United|FPT}}
| align="left" | [[Alain Tramontin Stadium]]<br>[[Eterna City]], [[Valladares]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 6|6]]
| {{UICAclub2t|FC Yassaca|SRS}}
| {{UICAscore|3–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Latrobe Athletic|KSK}}
| align="left" | [[Estadio Nacional]]<br>[[Navel Island]], [[Whirl Islands]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 7|7]]
| {{UICAclub2t|CA Paulinthal|PAS}}
| {{UICAscore|2-2|3–2}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Herzegovina City FC|BNJ}}
| align="left" | [[Stadium of the Moon]]<br>[[Lunas]], [[Pasarga]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 8|8]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Mâ Âlâmëómë|FFD}}
| {{UICAscore|1–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Wirr Tsi|CMT}}
| align="left" | [[Capitalizt Dome]]<br>[[Chromia]], [[Chromatika]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 9|9]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Raynor City United|VAL}}
| {{UICAscore|3–1}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Spartangrad|EUR}}
| align="left" | [[Old City Stadium]]<br>[[Iturributa]], [[Astograth]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 10|10]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Wirr Tsi|CMT}}
| {{UICAscore|2–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|KT Itzalovalle|AUD}}
| align="left" | [[Mountain Fortress]]<br>[[Oriannor]], [[Tikariot]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 11|11]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Straudum VV|KOR}}
| {{UICAscore|2–1}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Atletik|MYT}}
| align="left" | [[Burdina Jauregia]]<br>[[Ferramendiak]], [[Audioslavia]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 12|12]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Wirr Tsi|CMT}}
| {{UICAscore|1–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Cazadores Cathair|AUD}}
| align="left" | [[Orange Bowl]]<br>[[Schemerdrecht]], [[Ko-oren]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 13|13]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Arlington City|ZWZ}}
| {{UICAscore|1–0}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Crisisbless|NPH}}
| align="left" | [[Cednia Beach Center]]<br>[[Cednia Beach]], [[Turori]]
|-
| [[Challengers Cup 14|14]]
| {{UICAclub2t|Lakewood United|TMB}}
| {{UICAscore|2–1}}
| {{UICAclub2t|Montreal Koreana|QUE}}
| align="left" | [[National Stadium]]<br>[[Scott City]], [[Darmen]]
|}

==Records and statistics==
===Clubs===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! style="border:0px" | &nbsp;
! colspan="2" | IFCF only
! colspan="3" | UICA included
|-
! Club
! Champion
! Runner-up
! Champion
! Runner-up
! Third place
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Ulsa|EUR}}
| 0
| 0
| 4
| 0
| 0 <!-- no semifinal/quarterfinal/KR2 eliminations, 2 KR1 eliminations -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Mapabore Juventud|AGU}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 1
| 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Albrecht FC|CAM}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 2 <!-- 1 other semifinal elimination -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Soldarian FC|VAL}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 2 <!-- no other semifinal eliminations -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Cafundó do Juta|CAF}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 1
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Mar Sara FC|VAL}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 1
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Arlington City|ZWZ}}
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Liria Prizren|MYT}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0 <!-- no semifinal/quarterfinal/KR2 eliminations, 3 KR1 eliminations -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Sabrefell Athletic|NPH}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Sokojiwa Dosi CK|COM}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Sonoma Center Panthers|COM}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0 <!-- 2 semifinal eliminations -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Turoki Tide|VIL}}
| 0
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Wirr Tsi|CMT}}
| 2
| 0
| 2
| 0
| 0
<!--
|-
| 11
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Medoria Löwen|COM}}
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 2
| 0
|-
| 12
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Qidade Savana|JSY}}
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| 13
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Metropolis Alligators|VLD}}
| 0
| 0
| 1
| 1
| 0 <!-- 1 semifinal elimination, 3 quarterfinal eliminations -->

<!-- Yuba United: 1 semifinal elimination, 1 quarterfinal elimination -->
<!-- Carter FC, Fontvielle Impact, Grasshoppers Turic, Protectorate United, Football Nordiqueville: no semifinal eliminations -->
|}
; Globe Cup and Challengers Cup combined
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! Club
! Titles
! Editions
! Second
! Editions
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Ulsa|EUR}}
| 4
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 46, 51, 61, 63
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Mapabore Juventud|AGU}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 21, 26
| 1
| GC: 30
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Albrecht FC|CAM}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 5, 16
| 0
|
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Soldarian FC|VAL}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 15, 19
| 0
|
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Cafundó do Juta|CAF}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 2, 10
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Mar Sara FC|VAL}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 32, 68 
| 0
|
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Arlington City|ZWZ}}
| 2
| ChC: 3, 13
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Liria Prizren|MYT}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 43, 44
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Sabrefell Athletic|NPH}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 56, 70 
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Sokojiwa Dosi CK|COM}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 22, 55 
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Sonoma Center Panthers|COM}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 23, 35 || 0 ||
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Turoki Tide|VIL}}
| 2
| [[Globe Cup|GC]]: 40, 66
| 0
| 
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAclublt|Wirr Tsi|CMT}}
| 2
| ChC: 10, 12
| 0
| 
|}
===Associations===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center"
! style="border:0px" | &nbsp;
! colspan="2" | IFCF only
! colspan="3" | UICA included
|-
! Association
! Champion
! Runner-up
! Champion
! Runner-up
! Third place
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|VAL}} || 1 || 0 || 8 || 7 || 5
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|COM}} || 0 || 0 || 7 || 7 || 2
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|EUR}} || 1 || 1  || 5 || 3 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|CAF}} || 0 || 0 || 4 || 3 || 6
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|NPH}} || 0 || 1 || 4 || 2 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|CAM}} || 0 || 0 || 4 || 1 || 3
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|JSY}} || 0 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 4
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|VLD}} || 0 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|AGU}} || 0 || 0 || 3 || 2 || 1 <!-- 3 other semifinal eliminations -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|LLF}} || 0 || 0 || 3 || 2 || 1 <!-- 2 other semifinal eliminations -->
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|VRC}} || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2 || 1
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|KRY}} || 0 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|FFD}} || 1 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|CMT}} || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|NGD}} || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|SRS}} || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|-
| style="text-align: left" | {{UICAassnlt|ZWZ}} || 2 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 0
|}
{{Club football}}
[[Category:IFCF]]