Organising body | Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) |
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Founded | 1976 | (as Pahlavi Cup)
Region | Iran |
Number of teams | 96 |
Qualifier for | AFC Champions League Elite |
Domestic cup(s) | Iranian Super Cup |
Current champions | Sepahan (5th title) |
Most successful club(s) | Esteghlal Persepolis (7 titles each) |
Television broadcasters | |
2023–24 Hazfi Cup |
Hazfi Cup (Persian: جام حذفی, romanized: Jām-e Hazfi, lit. 'knockout cup') formerly known as Pahlavi Cup (Persian: جام پهلوی, romanized: Jām-e Pahlavi) is an Iranian knockout football competition held annually by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Iranian football league was not held during the 1980s, hence the winner of Hazfi Cup represented Iran in the Asian Club Championship. After the revival of the league system, the champion of Iranian league qualified for Asian Club Championship and the winner of Hazfi Cup for Asian Cup Winners' Cup. The Asian Cup Winners' Cup merged with the Asian Champions Cup in 2002–03 to form the AFC Champions League and Iran was initially given two (and later four) slots in this competitions. The FFIRI decided to award one of Iran's AFC Champions League spots to the winner of the Hazfi Cup, and since then, the winners of Hazfi Cup have always been allocated a spot in the AFC Champions League.[1][2] Since 2024 and with the rebranding of the Asian club competitions, the FFIRI decided to send the winner of the Hazfi cup to the AFC Champions League Elite Qualifying play-off.
The competition was founded in 1976 as Pahlavi Cup but after the revolution continued as Hazfi Cup. Esteghal and Persepolis are the most successful clubs with seven titles each.[3]