The Israel Toto Cup (, Gvia Ha'Toto) is an association football tournament that features clubs in the two highest divisions in Israel: the Israeli Premier League 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.
History League cups, in different formats, were played in Israel irregularly since the 1950s. In 1958, 1968 and 1973, anniversary cups, celebrating the 10th, 20th and 25th anniversary of independence of Israel, were played as a league cup competition, by Liga Leumit and Liga Alef clubs separately. In 1975–76 a League Cup competition was played, won by Hapoel Hadera (in Liga Leumit) and Maccabi Ramat Amidar (in Liga Alef), but the competition wasn't played again in the following seasons.
In 198,2, the IFA introduced a league cup, called Lilian Cup, after former IFA treasurer Yehuda Lilian, who died in February 1982.Yehuda Lilian Dies, Davar, 16 February 1982, Historical Jewish Press The competition, played at the beginning of the season, involved the top four teams from the previous season. Its format was changed during its years of play, at times being played in league format and at times being played as a knock-out competition. The competition was last played in 1989–90. This cup is sometimes referred to as a predecessor of the Toto Cup,Sinai? Ivanir? Malmilian? That's How the Toto Cup Started Yoni Lev Ari, 01 August 2009, ynet.co.il but these competitions are unconnected.A League Cup in the English Method – From the Next Season Maariv, 26 January 1984, Historical Jewish Press
In 1984–85, the IFA introduced a League Cup competition for the two top tiers of the Israeli football league system. The first round of the competition was played on 30 October 1984,53 Tickets Were Sold for Two Matches in the "Shkhuna" Maariv, 31 October 1984, Historical Jewish Press while the first finals, played on 7 May 1985, was won by Maccabi Yavne (Liga Leumit) and Hapoel Ashkelon (Liga Artzit). Before the 1986–87 Season, the Israeli Sports Betting Council started sponsoring the competition, which was renamed Toto Cup, and guaranteed rewards for participation and achievements in the competition. Ma'ariv, 5 September 1986, Historical Jewish Press
In 1999–2000, following the creation of the Israeli Premier League, the competition for the two top tiers was merged, so that the competition was played by the 24 top teams, and a separate competition was introduced for the third tier, Liga Artzit. In 2004–05 the competitions were separated once again, so starting from this season and up until the closure of Liga Artzit at the end of the 2008–09 season there were three league cup competitions running, for each of the three top divisions.
In the 2013–14 season, the Toto Cup was not played due to a disagreement between the Israeli Sports Betting Council and the IFA following the publication of a report by a committee headed by Yaron Zelekha, which was set up to examine the way football in Israel was managed. The IFA and the Israeli Sports Betting Council reached an agreement in October 2013, which confirmed the cancellation of the 2013–14 competitions.The FA and the Toto Agreed on the terms of the marketing of the Premier League Itzik Itzchaki, 20 October 2013, walla.co.il
Current competition structure
Group stages Premier League The group stages are usually played before the opening of the football leagues and take place from August to October, and the finals take place in January. The 14 teams in the league are divided into three groups: five teams in two groups, and four teams in one group. Each team plays against each team once. The two teams placed last in each group are eliminated, with the rest of the teams advancing to the quarterfinals.
Liga Leumit The group stages are usually played before the opening of the football leagues and take place from August to September, and the finals take place in December. The 16 teams in the league are divided into four groups, with four teams in each group. Each team plays against each team once, making a total of three games for each team. The best two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals.
Further rounds Until 2009, the eight teams that played in the quarterfinals played in a regular knock-out, two meetings for each team in the quarterfinals. Each team played one meeting at their home in the order determined in a raffle.
From the 2009–10 season until the 2012–13 season, both the Al and Leumit cups had just one game played in the quarterfinals on the home ground of one of the teams by a raffle, just like the State Cup games.
Since the 2012–13 season, Al teams play each other twice in the quarterfinals while Leumit play each other once.
The four winning teams that progressed to the semifinals play against their opponent. Once the two winners reach the final and the final winner is the cup winner. The final and the Toto Cup semifinals are all played in the same stadium.
From the quarterfinals and above, if a match is drawn, the game is settled with extra time and penalty shootouts.
Winners Season Top Division Second Division Third Division Artzit) Maccabi Yavne Hapoel Ashkelon Not held Artzit) Hapoel Petah Tikva Hapoel Hadera Artzit) Shimshon Tel Aviv Hapoel Haifa Artzit) Hapoel Bat Yam Artzit) Hapoel Be'er Sheva Hapoel Hadera Artzit) Hapoel Petah Tikva Maccabi Petah Tikva Artzit) Artzit) Bnei Yehuda Maccabi Jaffa Artzit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Artzit) Maccabi Haifa Beitar Tel Aviv Artzit) Maccabi Petah Tikva Hapoel Bat Yam Artzit) Hapoel Be'er Sheva Hakoah Maccabi Ramat Gan Artzit) Bnei Yehuda Artzit) Beitar Jerusalem Maccabi Jaffa Artzit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Hakoah Maccabi Ramat Gan Artzit)Maccabi Petah Tikva Hapoel Ramat Gan Artzit) Hapoel Haifa Maccabi Kafr Kanna Artzit) Hapoel Tel Aviv Hapoel Ashkelon Artzit) Maccabi Haifa Artzit) Maccabi Petah Tikva Ironi Ramat HaSharon Leumit | Artzit) Hapoel Petah Tikva Maccabi Netanya Hapoel Ashkelon Leumit | Artzit) Maccabi Haifa Hapoel Acre Hapoel Ramat Gan Leumit | Artzit) Maccabi Herzliya Ironi Kiryat Shmona Leumit | Artzit) Maccabi Haifa Hapoel Petah Tikva Ironi Kiryat Ata Leumit | Artzit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Be'er Sheva Hapoel Marmorek Leumit) Beitar Jerusalem Ironi Kiryat Shmona Not held Leumit) Ironi Kiryat Shmona Ironi Ramat HaSharon Leumit) Hapoel Ramat Gan Leumit) Hapoel Haifa Hapoel Rishon LeZion 2013–14 Not held Leumit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Bnei Lod Leumit) Maccabi Petah Tikva Hapoel Ashkelon Leumit) Hapoel Be'er Sheva Maccabi Sha'arayim Leumit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Afula Leumit) Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem Leumit) Beitar Jerusalem Hapoel Ramat Gan Leumit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Hapoel Nof HaGalil Leumit) Maccabi Haifa Beitar Tel Aviv Bat Yam Leumit) Maccabi Netanya Hapoel Rishon LeZion Leumit) Maccabi Tel Aviv Ironi Tiberias Leumit) Hapoel Tel Aviv Leumit) Beitar Jerusalem Bnei Yehuda
Winnings table +Top Division Rank Team Winnings 1 Maccabi Tel Aviv 9 2 Maccabi Haifa 5 3 Beitar Jerusalem 4 Maccabi Petah Tikva Hapoel Petah Tikva 6 Hapoel Be'er Sheva 3 7 Shimshon Tel Aviv 2 Bnei Yehuda Ironi Kiryat Shmona Hapoel Haifa 11 Hapoel Tel Aviv 1 Maccabi Herzliya Maccabi Yavne Maccabi Netanya +Second Division Rank Team Winnings 1 Hakoah Maccabi Ramat Gan 3 Maccabi Jaffa 3 Hapoel Ramat Gan 2 Hapoel Hadera Hapoel Ashkelon Hapoel Bat Yam Maccabi Petah Tikva Ironi Kiryat Shmona Hapoel Rishon LeZion 10 Beitar Tel Aviv 1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva Hapoel Haifa Hapoel Acre Hapoel Petah Tikva Maccabi Netanya Ironi Ramat HaSharon Hapoel Bnei Lod Maccabi Sha'arayim Hapoel Afula Hapoel Katamon Jerusalem Hapoel Nof HaGalilBeitar Tel Aviv Bat YamIroni TiberiasHapoel Tel Aviv +Third Division Rank Team Winnings 1 Hapoel Ashkelon 3 Hapoel Ramat Gan 3 Hapoel Marmorek 1 Maccabi Kafr Kanna Ironi Ramat HaSharon Ironi Kiryat Ata
External links Israel Football Association Toto Cup Al Israel Football Association Toto Cup Leumit Israel Football Association Toto Cup Artzit – 1999–2008 Israel Football Association Toto Cup Artzit – 2008–2009 Israel Football Association
References