Toto Cup

Israel Toto Cup
First season1984; 40 years ago (1984)
CountryIsrael
ConfederationUEFA (Europe)
Number of teams30 (14 participants in Al, 16 in Leumit)
Current championsMaccabi Tel Aviv (Al)
Ironi Tiberias (Leumit)
Most championshipsMaccabi Tel Aviv (8 cups)
WebsiteToto Cup Al
Toto Cup Leumit
Current:

The Israel Toto Cup (Hebrew: גביע הטוטו, Gvia Ha'Toto) is an association football tournament that features clubs in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Israeli Premier League a.k.a. Ligat Ha'Al; and the Israeli 2nd division Liga Leumit. Both of these leagues are featured separately for the Israel Toto Cup – at a distinct seasonal tournament for each of these two. They are simply referred to as Toto Cup Al and Toto Cup Leumit, in many global media outlets.

From 1999 to 2009, the tournament was also open to clubs from the third division, until the cancellation of Liga Artzit.

The Toto Cup is the third most important competition in Israeli football after the Israeli Premier League and the Israeli State Cup. As it isn't highly regarded, Israeli clubs use the games to rotate their squad and give fringe players and youth players a chance. However, the Israeli Sports Betting Council pays 1.25 million NIS to the winners, while the runners-up receive 950,000 NIS.[1]

  1. ^ גביע הטוטו: 6 מיליון שקל יחולקו העונה ל-16 המשתתפות [Toto Cup: 6 million shekel will be divided between the 16 teams] (in Hebrew). Globes. 24 January 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2012.