The 2026 Slovak Cup final (known as the Slovnaft Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the final match of the 2025–26 Slovak Cup, the 57th season of the top cup competition in Slovak football. The match was played on 1 May 2026.
It was contested by MŠK Žilina and FC Košice. The match ended in a 3–1 victory for Žilina, winning their first trophy in several years. As winners, they qualified for the first qualifying round of the 2026–27 UEFA Europa League. Filip Kaša scored the winning goal.
Route to the final Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away; N: neutral venue). MŠK Žilina (1)RoundFC Košice (1)OpponentResult2025–26 Slovak CupOpponentResultByePreliminary roundByeByeFirst roundBye Spartak Vysoká nad Kysucou (6)7–1 (A)Second roundSlovan Kendice (4)5–0 (A)TJ Sokol Zubrohlava (6)8–0 (A)Third roundMŠK Spišské Podhradie (3)7–1 (A)MŠK Senec (3)1–0 (A)Fourth roundViOn Zlaté Moravce (2)4–2 (A)MFK Skalica (1)3–1 (H)Round of 16MFK Ružomberok (1)4–2 (A)AS Trenčín (1)3–0 (H)Quarter-finalsDAC Dunajská Streda (1)4–0 (A)FK Železiarne Podbrezová2–0 (H) 1–1 (A) (3–1 agg.)Semi-finalsTatran Prešov (1)2–2 (A), 2–1 (a.e.t) (H) (3–2 agg.) Match
Background On 6 September 2025, it was announced that the final of the 2025–26 Slovak Cup would be held in the Štadión pod Dubňom. It would be the second time that it would host a final, with the first being in the 2007–08 season when Artmedia Petržalka beat Spartak Trnava 1–0 following a goal from Zbyněk Pospěch in extra time.
The final saw Žilina play in their first major cup final since the 2021 final, which they lost against Slovan Bratislava, and seek their first major trophy under the management of Pavol Staňo. The šošoni were considered to be the favorites of the match, having already beaten Košice 4–1 earlier in the season and drawing 2–2 away from home.
Summary
First half At the start of the game, Košice had two chances by the penalty area at the right wing. The first goal came after 20 minutes when Patrik Iľko's attempt was saved by Matúš Kira. The Košice defenders stopped him from getting the ball, but shortly after, Kristián Bari sprinted past and tucked the ball into the net from in front of the open goal, with former Košice player Michal Faško scoring. In the last few minutes of the first half, Filip Kaša scored a header following a cross from Timotej Hranica.
Second half 10 minutes after the break, Žilina were able to increase their lead to 3–0, following a goal scored by Marko Roginić who was assisted by Faško. Around the hour mark, Iľko had a shot which hit the crossbar. Shortly afterward, referee Kráľovič paused the match due to pyrotechnics in the Košice fans' section. Osman Kakay would make a goal-line clearance following a mistake by goalkeeper Kira. Following a cleared corner kick in additional time, Košice were able to counter, with Karlo Miljanić scoring.
Details
GK1 Jakub BadžgoňCB17 Ján MinárikCB25 Filip KašaCB32 Aleksandre NarimanidzeRM21 Timotej Hranica CM66 Miroslav Káčer CM11 Fabian BzdylLM20 Kristián BariRW14 Michal Faško CF16 Patrik IľkoLW95 Marko Roginić Substitutes:GK29 Dominik SváčekDF2 Marek OkálMF6 Xavier Adang MF8 Regő Szánthó MF10 Andrei FloreaDF14 Michal SvobodaDF33 Tobiáš Pališčák FW34 Lukáš Prokop FW39 Lukáš Juliš Manager: Pavol StaňoGK22 Matúš KiraCB26 Sebastian KóšaCB20 Ján Krivák CB24 Dominik Kružliak RM17 Mátyás KovácsCM6 Filip LichýCM8 Dávid GallovičLM23 Matej Madleňák RW15 Miroslav Sovič CF9 Roman ČerepkaiLW77 Milan Rehuš Substitutes:GK98 Kevin DąbrowskiMF7 Milan Dimun DF18 Tomáš ĎurkoMF19 Milan PolčaDF21 Daniel Magda FW27 Karlo Miljanić DF29 Osman Kakay DF31 Emilian MetuDF47 Leonardo Lukačević Manager: Peter Černák
Assistant referees: Milan Štrbo Matej Zemko Fourth official: Martin Dohál Video assistant referee: Ivan Kružliak Assistant video assistant referee: Igor ValentMatch rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
Post-match
Reaction
MŠK Žilina reclaimed the Slovak Cup for the first time in 13 years since their 3–2 triumph in the 2012 final against FK Senica. On the other hand, this denied Košice their first trophy since their re-founding in 2018. It was the first trophy that Pavol Staňo won as a coach.
Following the match, it was reported that Košice fans had rioted in the city.
References
External links