French Football Federation Takes Control as Regional Phase Ends
The regional phase of the Coupe de France has officially concluded, handing administrative control back to the French Football Federation for the upcoming national rounds. A total of 176 clubs remain in contention as the tournament advances past its sixth-round curtain call, setting the stage for the entry of professional sides from Ligue 2.
Roland-Garros Hosts Main Draw for 176 Remaining Clubs
Following the conclusion of regional qualifiers across the country, 155 clubs have secured their progression to join the 18 professional teams of Ligue 2 and three overseas representatives from New Caledonia, Polynesia, and Mayotte. The main draw takes place at Roland-Garros, where officials will distribute participating sides into nine distinct regional pools. While the amateur clubs are sorted by strict geographical proximity, the Ligue 2 teams will be placed more randomly—two per group—to balance the fixtures. Under traditional tournament rules, the first club drawn is granted home-field advantage, though hosting rights automatically flip if their opponent plays two divisions higher in the French football pyramid.
Special Draw Determines Overseas Assignments for National Clubs
The scheduling process kicks off a day prior to the main event with a specialized draw to sort National 1 and National 2 clubs that requested overseas assignments. According to reports from Foot Amateur, tournament organizers faced unique logistical hurdles regarding the overseas quota this season. While a Polynesian club will host its seventh-round fixture at home, Mayotte’s representative must travel to mainland France because local sports facilities lack the required classification level. Teams drawn for overseas travel in the seventh round may also secure trips to French Guiana or Réunion should they advance to the eighth round, while clubs from Guadeloupe and Martinique will make the journey to the mainland.
Match Scheduling and the Road to Ligue 1
The seventh-round pairings, determined by the regional draws, establish the framework for the subsequent stage without revealing every eighth-round matchup immediately. Because certain paths depend on overseas travel contingencies, the eighth-round fixtures will unfold sequentially based on the bracket structure established on draw day. The seventh-round matches are scheduled for November 14 and 15, with the eighth round following two weeks later. The tournament will pause before Ligue 1 clubs enter the competition during the round of 32, scheduled for December 19 and 20 to coincide with the start of the Christmas school holidays.
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