The Throne Cup () is an annual knockout football competition in domestic Moroccan football. First played during the 1956–57 season, it is the oldest football competition in Morocco. organized by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

The Throne Cup was established in 1956, shortly after Morocco’s independence. It brings together clubs from across the Moroccan football league system and is contested in a knockout format, with teams progressing through successive elimination rounds until two sides meet in the final.

The competition was originally played as a single-match tournament. In certain periods, however, some rounds were conducted over two legs (home and away), reflecting structural adjustments made over time.

The winners of the Throne Cup qualify for the following season’s CAF Confederation Cup. If the cup winners have already secured qualification for the CAF Champions League through their league position, the Confederation Cup berth is reallocated in accordance with national and CAF regulations, often to the runner-up.

AS FAR is the most successful club in the competition, having won 12 titles. Olympic Club Safi is the most recent winner, having defeated RS Berkane in the 2025 final.

History

Before independence (Coupe du Trône origins) The history of Morocco's premier knockout competition traces back to the pre-independence era. The tournament was pioneered and established in **1946** under the framework of the Free League of Football (Ligue Libre de Football), spearheaded by national sports leader Abdeslam Benani

. Created as an independent patriotic sporting initiative to counter the French protectorate's athletic control, this early iteration of the national cup laid the direct foundation for the official **Coupe du Trône** (Throne Cup), which was fully institutionalized following Morocco's independence in 1956 under the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.

After Independence: Birth of the Throne Cup The Moroccan Throne Cup, known in French as Coupe du Trône, is the oldest official football cup competition in Morocco. It was first held in the 1956–57 season, shortly after Morocco gained independence, making it a symbolic tournament that reflects both national pride and footballing heritage.

The competition has used a knockout format open to clubs from all tiers of the Moroccan football league system since its inception. This allows amateur and lower-division clubs to compete against top-tier teams, occasionally producing unexpected results known as "giant-killings."

The first-ever winner of the Throne Cup was MC Oujda, who also won the first two editions consecutively (1957, 1958), marking a strong early presence. Over time, however, AS FAR (the Royal Army team) became the tournament’s most successful club, winning the title a record 12 times, followed closely by Wydad AC and FAR’s traditional rivals Raja CA.

The final is typically played at neutral venues and is one of the most watched domestic matches in Moroccan football. Notable stadiums such as Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca and Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat have hosted many finals over the years.

In addition to the prestige, the winner of the Throne Cup earns qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup, adding a continental dimension to the stakes. The cup also plays a vital role in giving exposure to young talents and smaller clubs, sometimes acting as a springboard for players’ careers.

The competition has survived through decades of Moroccan football evolution, political transitions, and club transformations, and continues to be a key highlight of the national football calendar. It represents not just sporting glory but also a deep connection between football and Moroccan national identity.

Format The current format features 4 preliminary rounds and the final phase. All games are one-legged.

The final phase starts with the Round of 32 where the 16 teams qualified from the fourth round are joined by all 16 Botola teams. Draws are "blind", meaning a Botola team can be drawn in one match with a team from the same league. The Round of 32 is followed by the Round of 16 matches, quarterfinals, semifinals and a final. Although not only one stadium has hosted the final, it is usually played in the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Performance

Performance by clubs List of football clubs ranked by total wins and runners-up. Club Winners Runner-up Winning years Runner-up years AS FAR 12 6 1959, 1971, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2020 1988, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2012, 2023 Wydad AC 9 7 1970, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001 1957, 1958, 1961, 1964, 2003, 2004, 2021 Raja CA 9 6 1974, 1977, 1982, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2012, 2017, 2023 1965, 1968, 1983, 1992, 2013, 2022 FUS Rabat 6 3 1967, 1973, 1976, 1995, 2010, 2014 1960, 2009, 2015 KAC Marrakesh 6 2 1963, 1964, 1965, 1987, 1991, 1993 1962, 1997 MAS Fès 4 8 1980, 1988, 2011, 2016 1966, 1971, 1974, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2010 MC Oujda 4 1 1957, 1958, 1960, 1962 1959 RS Berkane 3 3 2018, 2021, 2022 1987, 2014, 2024 CO Casablanca 3 - 1983, 1990, 1992 OC Khouribga 2 4 2006, 2015 1989, 1994, 1995, 2005 SCC Mohammédia 2 2 1972, 1975 1979, 1999 DH El-Jadida 1 4 2013 1977, 1985, 1986, 2017 Kenitra AC 1 3 1961 1969, 1976, 1991 RS Settat 1 3 1969 1967, 1970, 2000 COD Meknès 1 2 1966 1981, 2011 RAC Casablanca 1 1 1968 1972 OC Safi 1 1 2024 2016 Majd Casablanca 1 - 2000 TAS Casablanca 1 - 2019 HUS Agadir - 3 1963, 2006, 2019 RS Kenitra - 3 1978, 1982, 1984 US Sidi Kacem - 2 1975, 1980 IZ Khemisset - 1 1973 CR Bernoussi - 1 2007 Wydad Fès - 1 2018 MA Tétouan - 1 2020

By city City Championships Clubs Casablanca 24 Wydad (9), Raja (9), CO Casablanca (3), RAC Casablanca (1), TAS Casablanca (1), Majd Casablanca (1) Rabat 18 AS FAR (12), FUS Rabat (6) Marrakesh 6 KAC Marrakech (6) Fez 4 MAS Fès (4) Oujda 4 MC Oujda (4) Berkane 3 RS Berkane (3) Khouribga 2 OC Khouribga (2) Mohammedia 2 SCC Mohammédia (2) Settat 1 RS Settat (1) El Jadida 1 DH El-Jadida (1) Kenitra 1 Kénitra AC (1) Meknes 1 COD Meknès (1) Safi 1 OC Safi (1)

Records Most titles won: 12 wins AS FAR (1959, 1971, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2020) Most consecutive wins: 3 wins AS FAR (1984, 1985, 1986) and (2007, 2008, 2009) KAC Marrakech (1963, 1964 and 1965) Most Finals played: 18 finals AS FAR Most finals lost: 8 finals MAS Fes Most consecutive finals losses: 2, joint record: Wydad AC (1956–57, 1957–58) (2002–03, 2003–04) DH El-Jadida (1984–85, 1985–86) OC Khouribga (1993–94, 1994–95) MAS Fes (2000–01, 2001–02) Most final appearances without ever winning: 3, joint record: HUS Agadir (1962–63, 2005–06, 2018–19) RS Kenitra (1977–78, 1981–82, 1983–84) Most final appearances without losing (streak): 3, joint record: KAC Marrakech (1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65) AS FAR (1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86) (2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09) Most final appearances without ever losing: 3 finals CO Casablanca (1982–83, 1989–90, 1991–92) Longest gap between wins: 24 years, Wydad AC (2000–01–Present) Biggest win in a final: 4 goals (KAC Marrakech 4–0 RS Berkane, 1986–87)

References

External links FRMF Palmarès RSSSF competition history